Our planet spins on its axis which is tilted approximately 23 degrees relative to the sun as we orbit it. The spinning of the planet defines our night and days. The orbiting of the sun on the tilted axis determines our seasons. Half of the year the northern hemisphere is leaned away from the sun, while the southern hemisphere is tipped closer. The day the northern hemishpere is tipped the furthest from the sun is Dec. 21st each year. That is known as winter solstice - the longest night. In Australia they are having their longest day.

The other six months of the year, the northern hemisphere is leaned closer to the sun. It is it's very closest on summer solstice, June 21st. Halfway between those extremes in the cycling of our year there are two eqinoxes - that is when day and night are virtually equal length. As winter moves into summer this balance point when the sun crosses directly over the earth's equator is called spring (or vernal) equinox. It occurs most often on March 20 (as it does this year), and sometimes on March 21.

This cycle has been observed, marked and celebrated by humankind for millennia , in virtually all parts and cultures of the world. The "Sacred Round" or Aztec and Mayan calendar marks the cycle. Many sites throughout North America mark the equinox with a stone configuration of some kind. In Eygpt the Sphinx is built to face the rising sun on the day of the vernal equinox. In ancient Britain, Ireland there are megalithic remains which herald the soltice.

In ancient Germany the Goddess Ostara was thought to concieve a child with the solar God on spring equinox. In the Mediterranean region most of the Pagan religions celebrated the equinox itself or shortly thereafter. In one of those religions, the Phrygian fertility goddess, Cybele, had a consort who was believed to have been born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he was said to have died and been resurrected each year during the time around the equinox (Mar 22 - Mar 25). In Rome, the celebratory rituals were performed where St. Peters stands today. In ancient Persia there was the Zoroastrian faith. They considered the equinox their new year "No-Ruz".

Today, those of the Baha'i faith celebrate Naw-Ruz (new year) at equinox. Christians celebrate Easter the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox, in honor of Jesus who died and was resurrected. In Judaism, Passover is celebrated in the springtime, on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. Happy spring to you, no matter what your beliefs.