You guys, spring is happening tomorrow. I know we are all still reeling about Daylight Savings and now we have another seasonal thing to contend with, but this one is great news. Snow will subside, flowers will arise and the beaches are busy getting the sand ready for you. Here are some FAQs to assist:
When is the first day of spring 2025?
It’s Thursday, March 20, 2025.
What is the vernal equinox?
It’s the beginning of spring, but the reason why it’s the beginning is a little more complex. It refers to two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the equator, and day and night are of equal length (thank you, Britannica, for explaining). The United States fits completely into the northern hemisphere, where the vernal equinox traditionally falls around March 20 or 21. The sun, after creating that perfectly poised moment, then crosses the equator and heads north, which is why our weather then gets warmer. For the southern hemisphere, the March equinox is their autumn equinox.
But why did you say two moments in the year?
Because there’s another moment when the sun does the same trick, on September 22 or 23. For us in the northern hemisphere, that’s our autumn equinox, and for the southern hemisphere, it’s the spring equinox.
When does this end?
When we get the summer solstice, which happens June 20 or 21 in our northern hemisphere (and December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere).
Are these dates solid each year?
Let’s run that past the Farmer’s Almanac. That handy resource says spring was always on March 21 during most of the 20th century, but it started sliding to be earlier during the 400-year Gregorian calendar cycle. The last time we had the equinox on the 21st was in 2007. The almanac comments, “Now, the 21st is gone for the rest of our lives unless you believe in reincarnation and want to check back in during the 22nd century.”
And what is the Gregorian calendar cycle?
It’s a 400-year cycle that calculates in leap-year days, so our calendar keeps up with the sun’s timing.
Why is the first day of spring called the vernal equinox?
Vernal means relating to spring, from the Latin word ver (spring). Ever hiked Vernal Fall in Yosemite? The water flow is stronger in spring as snow melts, hence the name. Equinox comes from two Latin words—aequus (equal) and nox (night).
What do pagans do for the vernal equinox?
They call it Ostara, and they celebrate the return of spring with rituals of renewal and fertility, like planting seeds and decorating eggs. This one's interesting.