When is the equinox. Day of the spring and autumn equinox. Festival of the autumn equinox among different nations

The vernal equinox or the time when the length of the day equal to night, falls annually in March - and in 2018 this day will come on the 20th.

The equinox, that is, the time when the length of day and night are equal, occurs twice a year - in spring and autumn. Changing times in modern world are determined by the calendar, and in ancient times these days were considered the change of seasons. Scientists consider the spring equinox to be the astronomical beginning of spring, which lasts three months until the summer solstice - in 2018 it falls on June 21.

Therefore, since ancient times the day spring equinox people considered it a long-awaited and mystical event.

When day equals night

The spring equinox arrives when the Sun moves from the southern hemisphere of the celestial sphere to the northern. At this time, the Earth, moving in its orbit, will cover a quarter of the year's journey. The equal duration of light and dark time of day is explained by the fact that the two hemispheres will be illuminated exactly half by the luminary.

The seasons of the hemispheres change from the day of the spring equinox. From this time on, astronomical spring begins in the northern hemisphere of the Earth, and astronomical autumn begins in the southern hemisphere. And this continues until the summer solstice.

Six months later, when the Sun, having continued its movement, moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern, the equinox will occur again, but the Sun at this time is on the opposite side of the orbit.

The date of the vernal equinox is historically considered to be March 21. At the First Ecumenical Council in 325, it was on this day that it was decided general rule by definition of the day of Easter celebration.

According to the rule, Christians celebrate the Bright Resurrection of Christ on the first Sunday after the spring full moon, but not earlier spring day equinox.

The spring equinox falls on different dates every year, since it does not have a fixed day or hour and shifts by almost six hours every year. Due to the fact that the astronomical year differs from the calendar year, the vernal equinox may fall from March 19 to March 21.

In leap years, the earliest dates of the equinoxes are observed, and the latest are observed in the years that precede the leap years. During a leap year, time is adjusted and the equinox returns to its original date.

Traditions and customs

Many peoples of the world day of spring equinox Since ancient times, it was considered a great holiday - magical and ritual. Spring festivals in ancient and medieval times were celebrated with joy and rituals invoking the fertility of the earth and the well-being of the people.

The Great Sphinx was built by the ancient Egyptians so that during the spring equinox it pointed directly at the rising sun. Many peoples have kept this holiday in their calendar to this day. The holiday of Navruz, which in Farsi means “new day,” has its roots in the tradition of the ancient farmers of Central Asia and the Middle East. For many peoples who profess Islam, the holiday has become an integral part of their culture - the day of the equinox is celebrated as a national holiday by the Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Tajiks, Tatars, Uzbeks, Bashkirs and many others.

On the day of the vernal equinox is celebrated New Year In many eastern countries, including in Afghanistan and Iran. Among the Germans and Celts, the vernal equinox was associated with the rebirth of spring and indicated the beginning of the agricultural season. Housewives, in order to please the goddess Ostara (one of the most “ancient” goddesses, who was worshiped at the end of the 2nd millennium BC) and to welcome spring in a special way, painted eggs and baked wheat buns. Slavic holiday Maslenitsa is also timed to coincide with the spring equinox - on this day people said goodbye to winter and welcomed spring, which embodies the rebirth of nature. In the old days, people believed that the more fun the holiday was, the more generous nature would be to them.

The day of the spring equinox in Rus' was called “Magpies” because at that time many birds flew in, namely 40, and the lark, which returned first, was considered a symbol of the holiday. On this day old custom They baked cookies in the shape of a bird and gave them from the whole village to the one who saw the lark first. Then the remaining sweets were distributed to the children so that they could invite the larks, who, according to legend, would bring spring with them. In many countries this day is magical, as it is the only one of the year when spring meets spring. Usually at this time they tell fortunes and solemnly burn an effigy of winter, welcoming the long-awaited spring.

Signs

On the day of the spring equinox, according to signs, they monitor the weather, and if it is warm on this day, then there will be no cold or frost until summer. The day of the spring equinox is best spent with your family or with a loved one - on this day you cannot quarrel, get upset, or sort things out with loved ones. So that all next year spend without worries and not think about the bad, the day of spring balance should be celebrated with joy. People believe that a wish made on this day will definitely come true.

On the day of the spring equinox, they tell fortunes about love - they tell fortunes using Tarot cards, classical cards, runes, and oracles. And in order to get an accurate answer, at the moment of fortune telling you should concentrate and ask a specific question. Since the holiday was preceded by Maslenitsa (in 2017 from February 20 to 26 inclusive), many girls use similar fortune telling. So, for example, on this day they also baked pancakes, and if the first pancake was not lumpy, then they believed that they would get married this year. On the spring equinox, girls guessed the gender of their first child; to do this, they kept track of who festive table take the first pancake. If it was a man, they were expecting a boy, and if it was a woman, they were expecting a girl.

People considered dreams on the spring equinox to be prophetic, so girls used to tell fortunes about their husbands before going to bed. To do this, two aces – a spades and a diamonds – were placed under the pillow, as well as a ten of clubs, a ring, a key and a piece of pie, having previously wrapped all the items in a white scarf.

The future was judged the next morning, depending on what was dreamed about: a ring for an imminent wedding, a key or bread for success in work, a pie for luck and joy, a card of spades for trouble, a diamond card for wealth, club - for moving.

The spring equinox is a magical period, a time for the manifestation of feelings, and if you have long wanted to confess your feelings to your loved one, you need to do it on this day.

An equinox is an astronomical period when the center of the Sun “crosses” the celestial equator, while it is completely perpendicular to the Earth's equator. If we talk about the northern hemisphere, then at the autumn equinox, namely on September 22 or 23, the Sun moves from the northern hemisphere to the southern. And at this time the day is almost equal to the night, which is why it got its name. And the Sun rises almost directly in the east and sets directly in the west.

Each nation celebrates this day in its own way, having its own traditions. For example, in Rus' it is customary to bake cabbage or lingonberry pies, organize festivities, and insert rowan tassels between window frames as a talisman. And among the Celts it is a harvest festival, a holiday of autumn and wisdom. And they have their own rituals - they first show everyone the best gifts of summer, and then eat them, which guarantees enough food for the whole year.

Autumn breaks up with summer,
She sometimes cries, sometimes she laughs,
Then suddenly it starts to rain,
Then suddenly everything will be flooded with sunshine,
Equinox of nature,
Variety of weather!
Day today is equal to night,
Tomorrow it will become shorter
But that's tomorrow, and now,
Happy equinox to all of you!
And although nature fades away,
Don't let this scare you,
She needs to rest too
Gain new strength, take a nap,
And I, in autumn bad weather,
I wish you LOVE and HAPPINESS!

Autumn is in the yard,
The leaves are gilded with a brush,
And today is day and night
Exactly the same!

The equinox has arrived
A star fell from the sky,
Let her bring you
Happiness, joy for the whole year!

Today the day has become equal to the night,
Autumn sends us its greetings.
I wish you a magical day
I wish you health and many years to come.

Equinox today -
A magical day, not an easy one.
May a surprise be sent to you
By wayward fate.

On the autumn equinox,
I congratulate you,
Peace, harmony
I wish in my heart.

Let the foliage cover
From troubles and insults,
And the path to balance
Will be open.

Day autumn equinox Today,
And there is no reason to be sad.
It's time to send your soul into flight,
She should soar with joy.

I want smiles on this day to see the sea,
Let the veil of lies disappear forever.
So that your families prosper,
Let their hearts drink in love.

Today we will celebrate the holiday.
After all, day and night are equal again!
Winter is not far away,
Don't borrow heat from us!

The equinox is now
Let the sun shine in the skies
To give us a reserve of strength,
To live like in fairy-tale dreams!

The day has settled on the scales
The second night settled in,
Happy children of the universe,
Noisy son and quiet daughter.

The minutes were divided in half,
The two divided the hours,
Autumn equinox day
You gave us a gift today.

I wish that nights and days
You filled me to the brim with happiness,
So that we can live in harmony
And the minutes of love were not counted.

Autumn is playing outside the window,
I brushed the leaves off the apple tree,
Equinox is visiting us
Stopped by for a day.

Day and night do not argue at all -
On this autumn day.
The sun rose above the earth,
The Quarter takes its source again!

May you achieve it in life
You're the same height
Let it be like the sun at its zenith
You always shine for people!

Day and night have already come together as equals,
So, we have crossed that threshold,
When summer was full,
And now it’s an autumn evening

Reminded us that frost is near,
The cold, the cold will soon be here,
Autumn will take possession of the lush garden,
And shake off his confident arrogance.

Give me your hand, let's sit with you,
On a park bench by the stream,
We are always - both summer and winter,
We'll be together - just you and me!

Congratulations: 25 in verse.

The day of the vernal equinox (Spring Equinox) is one of the most unique natural phenomena, the essence of which, in scientific language, boils down to the fact that “at the moment of the equinox, the center of the Sun in its visible movement along the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator.”

On this day, the Earth, rotating around its imaginary axis passing through the poles, while simultaneously moving around the Sun, is in such a position in relation to the luminary that the sun's rays carrying thermal energy, fall vertically towards the equator. The sun moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern, and on these days in all countries the day is almost equal to night.

There are spring and autumn equinoxes. Universal time (in other time zones these dates may differ by a day) in the northern hemisphere spring equinox occurs 20th of March when the Sun moves from the southern hemisphere to the northern, and autumn equinox occurs September 22 or 23(in 2019 - September 23), when the Sun moves from the northern hemisphere to the southern. IN southern hemisphere- on the contrary, the March equinox is considered autumn, and the September equinox is considered spring.

The spring and autumn equinoxes are considered the astronomical beginning of the respective seasons. The period of time between two equinoxes of the same name is called the tropical year. This year is today and is accepted for measuring time. There are approximately 365.2422 sunny days in a tropical year. It is because of this “approximately” that the equinox falls at a different time of day every year, each year moving forward by about 6 hours.

On the Day of the Vernal Equinox, the New Year begins for many peoples and nationalities of the Earth: Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan - almost all the countries of the Great Silk Road associate the beginning of the New Year with this natural phenomenon.

The ancient scientists of China, India, and Egypt knew very well about the days of the vernal equinox. In ancient times, the day of the spring equinox was considered a great holiday.

In religion in ancient times, the day of the vernal equinox was also given considerable importance. The date of Easter, which is celebrated every year at different times, was counted from the day of the vernal equinox as follows: March 21 - the first full moon - the first Sunday, which was considered a holiday.

Many peoples have preserved the day of the vernal equinox as a holiday in the calendar. For example, in Farsi it is called , which means “new day.” Rooted in the traditions of ancient farmers of the Middle East and Central Asia, the holiday has become an integral part of the culture of many peoples professing Islam.

In the CIS, the equinox day is celebrated as a national holiday by Tatars, Kazakhs, Bashkirs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Uzbeks and many other peoples. Navruz has been announced in a number of countries public holiday, and March 21 is a day off.

On this day, light and darkness are divided equally. In ancient times, when there were no calendars, spring was determined by the sun. It was believed that it was from this day that renewal in nature began: the first spring thunder, the swelling of buds on the trees, the lush sprouting of greenery.

The day of the vernal equinox was especially revered in the pagan faith. It was believed that on this day in the annual cycle, Spring, personifying the revival and rebirth of nature, replaces Winter.

When the Sun moves from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, the autumn equinox occurs.

When talking about equinox dates, we should distinguish between a date based on universal time and a date for a specific time zone:

if the equinox occurs before 12:00 universal time, in some countries located west of the prime meridian, this day may not yet have arrived and, according to local time, the arrival of the equinox will be considered 1 day earlier;

if the equinox occurs later than 12:00 universal time, then in some countries located east of the prime meridian, the next day may already have arrived and the date of the equinox will be 1 more.

According to the creators of the Gregorian calendar, the “official” date of the vernal equinox is March 21 (literally “12 days before the Kalends of April”), since this was the date of the vernal equinox during the Council of Nicaea.

The last time in this century the spring equinox fell on March 21 in 2007 and further in the 21st century it will fall on March 20 or even March 19.

From ancient times to the present day, humanity has lived in harmony with the natural rhythms of nature. The vernal equinox is a significant date that repeats every year on the twentieth of March. Many natural processes and curious phenomena are associated with this day.

Spring equinox in 2017 falls on March 20th. At this time, people follow centuries-old traditions, which we will talk about in this article. You can also find out the mass useful information about the history and customs of the spring equinox holiday.

Day of spring equinox

The equinox that occurs in spring is one of the most unique and stunning natural phenomena, the whole essence of which comes down to the astronomical principles of the movement of the Sun and Earth. On the day of the vernal equinox, rotating around its own axis and, at the same time, around the Sun, the Earth is located in such a way in relation to the hot body that the Sun’s rays fall vertically on the equator.

At this time, the Sun makes a transition from the southern to the northern hemisphere. In all countries of the world, night during the spring equinox is almost equal to day.

From an astronomical point of view, spring begins with the vernal equinox, and autumn begins with the autumn equinox. The interval between two identical equinoxes is called the tropical year, which is now accepted for calculating time.

The tropical year has approximately 365 whole and 24 hundredths solar days. It is because of this “approximate” value that the spring equinox falls at a different time of day every year, shifting about 6 hours ahead from year to year.

It is noteworthy that in many states, among many peoples around the world, it begins specifically with the spring equinox.

Light and darkness share their time equally on this amazing day. Even in ancient times, when there were no calendars, the sun determined the dawn of a charming spring, awakening nature and the whole world from its long winter sleep. Many ancient peoples considered the day when sunlight and pitch darkness divided the day in half, with a great holiday and honored the date of the spring equinox.

history of the holiday

The Slavs had several great celebrations that were held throughout the year. One thing the pagans celebrated in the spring is Komoeditsa. Now this day is celebrated in our country as Maslenitsa, which is held within the framework of Orthodox principles and traditions.

The Christian Church thus united the spring folk rituals and celebrations with a great religious date, since Maslenitsa falls on the cheese (meat) week preceding Lent. During this week, the church allows you to eat eggs, cheese and other dairy products, and fish. Meat is under the strictest ban these days.

Let's return to Komoeditsa. This holiday, which the Slavs in Rus' celebrated in the spring, long before Christianity, fell exactly during Lent. Komoeditsa lasted for two whole weeks - a week before the spring equinox and a week after it.

The Komoeditsa holiday was dedicated to the active farewell of the already tired winter over the long cold months and the welcoming of a blooming, green spring. Also on Komoeditsa, the Slavs celebrated the beginning of the New Year.

Yours interesting name The Komoeditsa holiday received thanks to one important ancient Slavic tradition - the veneration of the Bear God, who was called Komo. Precisely on the day of the vernal equinox, which falls in the middle of the Komoeditsa celebration, the pagan Slavs baked pancakes and “treated” the Honey Beast with fried and incredibly tasty pieces of sweet dough.

It is quite possible that the good old proverb “the first pancake is lumpy” actually sounds nothing more than: “The first pancake is lumpy!”, that is, to furry honey lovers, bears.

The custom of baking pancakes on Komoeditsa is due to the fact that the ruddy flat cakes, in appearance, shape, and scorching temperature, resemble the inaccessible sun, which is just beginning to come into full force on the day of the equinox.

With this tradition, the Slavs revered the power of the spring solar disk. While feasting on delicious pancakes, people believed that with every piece they ate they were filled with the life-giving power of sunlight.

Komoeditsa was celebrated widely and cheerfully: there were also rituals that combined incompatible things: religion and magic. Dances and songs on this day were interspersed with exciting noisy games, and a festive feast completed the picture of general folk festivities.

Spring equinox holiday in different countries

The spring holiday - the equinox - was and is honored in many cultures of our vast world. Not only the Slavs performed various magical and religious rituals, giving praise to the Sun and spring, many other peoples also have their own history of celebrating this holiday. We will tell you about the most striking traditions.

Spring equinox in India

In India, this holiday is called “Holi”; it is known worldwide as the “festival of colors”. Indians spend the first day of the bright March festival having fun, singing songs, dancing, and making bonfires.

On the second day of the festival, representatives of all castes and all classes, women and men, old people and children - all participate in a festive procession, where they sprinkle each other with colorful multi-colored powders, which consist of useful spices and medicinal herbs.

Spring equinox in Japan

In Japan, this important holiday is called “Shumbun no Hi” and the Japanese attach special meaning to it. Even before the start of the equinox, they diligently clean their homes, paying special attention to home altars, where photographs of deceased relatives are located. It is customary to decorate altars with flowers and place special ritual dishes there.

On the day of the holiday itself, the Japanese pray and indulge in ritual honors. The table at Shumbun no Hi should feature predominantly vegetarian food, including inari sushi filled with mixed rice, mushrooms, carrots and beans.

In almost all cultures, the spring equinox symbolizes the renewal and rebirth of nature. On this day you need to think only about good things, enjoy spring, the sun's rays, and the joyful singing of birds.

It is better to keep all negativity away from yourself and your loved ones on the day of the equinox. Astrologers believe that unfavorable energy and negative thoughts may materialize on this special day.

After a long and cold winter, every person dreams of the imminent arrival of the warm season. The vernal equinox 2018 will be the time when the Sun moves to the northern hemisphere and astronomical spring begins.

When does this day come?

The equinox occurs when the length of day and night becomes equal. This moment is observed when the Sun crosses the equator of the sky. The spring equinoxes are 365.24 solar days apart from each other, so they occur at different times. Now astronomers have learned to accurately determine the day of the equinox several years in advance. For those who are interested in what date this event will occur in 2018, we can already answer with certainty. So, the sun's rays will hit the earth's equator vertically on 03/20/18.

A little history

In the history of mankind, four key dates can be noted, in accordance with which the life of ancient people was built. In 2018 they will look like this:

All these points are sacred. It is after these days that dramatic changes in nature occur. The most revered date among our ancestors was still the day of the vernal equinox. They were waiting for him with the greatest impatience. He personified the victory of light and gave hope for the future. It is not surprising that many peoples perceive this day as a real holiday. The darkness begins to recede and the days lengthen. In ancient times, the equinox was associated with the onset of spring. For some peoples, this day heralded the arrival of the New Year. After all, after it a new period began, when everything in nature and human life began to be renewed.

As for our people, in the Slavic world, Komoeditsa or Maslenitsa was celebrated on the equinox. On this day it was customary to say goodbye to winter.

How to celebrate

Transition to new life cycle was celebrated with great enthusiasm among all peoples. People tried to leave all the bad things in the past and hoped that the new period would bring them victories and good luck. This primarily concerned the future harvest. This day was revered by almost all peoples of our planet. Europeans held numerous festivals and masquerades during this period.

In pre-Christian Rus', when people worshiped pagan gods, the equinox was considered almost the most important day of the year. He was greeted with unprecedented joy and hope. The holidays lasted several days and were called Maslenitsa Week. Each day was designated for certain rituals:

• On Monday, housewives baked fragrant pancakes and larks, symbolizing the arrival of spring. The first pancake, according to custom, was intended for Who - the Bear God. It was believed that he protected men during hunting. On the same day, in Russian villages they built a stuffed animal from straw and old things, impaled it and carried it on a sleigh throughout the area.
• On Tuesday there was a viewing party. Early in the morning, the guys invited the girls to ride a sleigh, and in the evening the matchmakers went to the houses of the future brides to discuss the details of the upcoming wedding.
• On Wednesday, mothers-in-law invited their sons-in-law over for pancakes, showing them how much they respected them. On Thursday, folk festivities were held in all Russian villages with noisy, exciting games and fairs, where one could taste pancakes with different fillings and enjoy ancient drinks. Young people danced in circles and sang songs. The bravest ones took part in fist fights and jumped over the fire. The day ended with the capture of the “snow city”. The purpose of all the events of this day was to throw out the negative energy that had accumulated over the winter.
• On other days, older people performed all sorts of rituals aimed at obtaining a rich harvest and strengthening family ties (mother-in-law parties, sister-in-law gatherings, etc.)
• On Sunday it was customary to ask each other for forgiveness. People also went to the bathhouse, trying to cleanse themselves of accumulated dirt, put on new and clean clothes and put an end to the past. Old and dilapidated things had to be burned these days. The main event of this holiday, of course, is the burning of a straw effigy - a symbol of winter. Previously, the ashes from the scarecrow were scattered across the fields in the hope of getting a good harvest.

Currently, many traditions associated with the equinox have been lost. However, some Russian cities still hold fairs where you can taste pies, pancakes and other baked goods. Performances by folk groups and master classes on various folk crafts are organized in the main squares. For this holiday, cafes and restaurants are adjusting their menus to include folk dishes.

Signs

In the old days, when making baked goods, housewives put various household items into the baked goods. So, if household members found in the lark, for example:

• a button, this meant a quick new thing;
• coin - wealth;
• flower - foreshadowed beauty for the owner;
• berry - was for health.

If a woman was pregnant, then during Maslenitsa one could easily find out the gender of the unborn baby. If a man took the first pancake, then an heir would be born, if a woman, then the future mistress.

According to Maslenitsa, the weather for the next forty days was easily predicted. If there was a holiday warm weather, then over the next month it was possible to forget about the frosts and prepare for work on the ground.

In ancient times, people were sure that on the equinox the heavens opened and their deepest desires were fulfilled. On this day it was customary to ask God for the most important things:

• about the future harvest;
• about the health and well-being of the whole family.

On this holiday it was forbidden to be sad. It was believed that on the day of the equinox everything could materialize, so crying and bad thoughts were prohibited. Joy and fun were a guarantee of good spirits for the whole year.