Lakshmi Prasad Sindhnur/Pond 5

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Let's Celebrate Spring!

World cultures mark the change of seasons in March with spring equinox traditions. 

As You Read: Identify at least one thing all these traditions have in common. 

Each March, something special happens to kick off the start of spring. The sun shines directly above the equator. This event is called the spring equinox (EE-kwa-nahks).

When the equinox happens, the hours of day and night around Earth are equal in length. That means there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. This year, the spring equinox will take place on March 20. 

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have celebrated the spring equinox. Here are just a few of those traditions.

Each March, something special happens to kick off the start of spring. The sun shines directly above the equator. This event is called the spring equinox (EE-kwa-nahks).

During the equinox, the hours of day and night around Earth are equal in length. That means there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. This year, the spring equinox will take place on March 20. 

Cultures around the world celebrate the spring equinox. They’ve been doing so for thousands of years. Here are just a few of those traditions.

Lakshmi Prasad Sindhnur/Pond 5

Country: India

Tradition: Holi

What’s a bright way to say goodbye to winter? Holi (HOH-lee) is a colorful festival in the Hindu religion. It’s a celebration of love in India and around the world. To spread joy, people playfully toss colored powder and water at each other. They also dance and sing at this hopeful time of new beginnings.

What’s a bright way to say goodbye to winter? Holi (HOH-lee) is a colorful festival. It’s practiced in the Hindu religion. It’s a celebration of love in India and around the world. People playfully toss colored powder and water at each other. They do this to spread joy. They also dance and sing at this hopeful time of new beginnings.

Happy Holi
Watch a video to learn more about this colorful holiday.

Andrey Vishin/Alamy Stock Photo

Country: Iran

Tradition: Nowruz

Nowruz (no-ROOS) is celebrated in Iran and other parts of the world. It marks the start of spring and also the Persian New Year. Persia is an older name for Iran. People create a special display called a haft-sin. It has seven items that start with the letter S and symbolize parts of life. For example, sprouts can represent change. Families and friends also gather to eat and dance.

Nowruz (no-ROOS) is celebrated in Iran and in other parts of the world. It marks the start of spring. Nowruz also marks the Persian New Year. Persia is an older name for Iran. People create a special display. It’s called a haft-sin. It has seven items that start with the letter S and symbolize parts of life. For example, sprouts can represent change. Families and friends also gather. Together, they eat and dance.

Shutterstock.com

Country: England 

Tradition: Gathering at Stonehenge 

No one is sure, but many experts believe an ancient people called the Druids built Stonehenge. Parts of the monument are more than 5,000 years old. Many believe its giant stones form a calendar. The stones might track the sun and the moon and mark the changing seasons. During the spring equinox, the sun rises over one of the stones. For centuries, people have come to view this awesome sight. 

No one is sure who built Stonehenge. But many experts believe it was done by an ancient people called the Druids. Parts of the monument are more than 5,000 years old. Many people believe its giant stones form a calendar. The stones might track the sun and the moon. They might also mark the changing seasons. The sun rises over one of the stones during the spring equinox. For centuries, people have come to view this awesome sight. 

JORDI CAMI/Alamy Stock Photo (temple); Byelikova_Oksana/Getty Images (Kukulkan)

The Maya worshiped Kukulkan, a snake god.

Country: Mexico

Tradition: Gathering at Chichén Itzá 

At Chichén Itzá in Mexico, something incredible takes place every spring equinox. On that day, the sun casts a shadow that makes it look like a giant snake is slithering down the steps of a temple. The ancient Maya people who built the temple planned this event. They designed the structure to work with the sun’s position at that time of the year. Thousands of visitors gather to celebrate the snake shadow’s arrival.

At Chichén Itzá in Mexico, something incredible takes place every spring equinox. On that day, the sun casts an unusual shadow. The shadow makes it look like a giant snake is slithering down the steps of a temple. The ancient Maya people who built the temple planned this event. They wanted the structure to work with the sun’s position at that time of the year. Thousands of visitors gather to celebrate the snake shadow’s arrival.

Chichén Itzá Serpent
Watch a video of this famous “snake” appearing on the steps of a pyramid.
  1. What is the spring equinox?
  2. Why do people toss colored powder during Holi?
  3. In what ways are the equinox celebrations in Mexico and England similar?
  1. What is the spring equinox?
  2. Why do people toss colored powder during Holi?
  3. In what ways are the equinox celebrations in Mexico and England similar?
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