The vernal equinox is one of the four quadrature points of the earths orbit, the others being Summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and the winter solstice. During the vernal equinox, which occurs on or about March 21st, there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. The only other time this happens is during the autumnal equinox.
Celebrating the Vernal equinox has been a pagan ritual for thousands of years. The Great sphinx on the Gaza plateau looks due east which corresponds to the sun position on the equinox. The monuments at Stonehenge are also aligned with the sun’s rising on the equinox. Early Europeans paid homage to Eostre, also know as Ostara. Eostre symbolized the passage of time, and was the goddess of fertility. According to Eostre was late in coming one year, and little girl was out in the forest gathering firewood. She cam across a beautiful bird whose wings were completely frozen and was near death. The girl called out to Eostre to save the bird. The goddess answered her prayers, but since the bird’s wings were frozen she changed it into a glimmering white hare. This sacred hare was still a bird and the legend of Easter eggs was born.
Other traditions about the vernal equinox relate to renewal rebirth and cleaning. During the Chinese New Year it is important to completely clean the house and remove any bad luck from the previous year. The vernal equinox was also when commitments were made between new lovers in anticipation of the upcoming hand fasting ceremony of the Summer Solstice
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