A Happy and Blessed Vernal Equinox: Photos of Spring
Photos for the Spring Equinox A Happy and Blessed Vernal Equinox and Ostara from Tommy Click Here and click the images: http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&q=spring&gbv=2&oq=spring&aq=f&aqi=g3g-z1g6&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=1502l3795l0l5528l6l6l0l0l0l0l220l1112l0.4.2l6l0 Cultural aspects A number of traditional spring and autumn (harvest) festivals are celebrated on the date of the equinoxes. Asia The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (节气, literally "climatic segments"), and the vernal equinox (Chūnfēn, Chinese and Japanese: 春分; Korean: 춘분; Vietnamese: Xuân phân) and the autumnal equinox (Qiūfēn, Chinese and Japanese: 秋分; Korean: 추분; Vietnamese: Thu phân) mark the middle of the spring and autumn seasons, respectively. In this context, the Chinese character 分 means "(equal) division" (within a season). In Japan, (March) Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日 Shunbun no hi) is an official national holiday, and is spent visiting family graves and holding family reunions. Similarly, in September, there is an Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日 Shūbun no hi). Neopaganism Wiccans and many other Neopagans hold religious celebrations of Ostara on the spring equinox, and Mabon on the autumnal equinox. [edit] March equinox commemorations Bas-relief in Persepolis - a symbol Iranian/Persian Nowruz - on the day of an equinox, the power of an eternally fighting bull (personifying the Earth) and that of a lion (personifying the Sun) are equal. Chichen Itza pyramid during the spring equinox - Kukulkan, the famous descent of the snakeNear East The March equinox marks the first day of various calendars including the Iranian calendar. The ancient Iranian new year's festival of Nowruz can be celebrated March 20 or March 21. According to the ancient Persian mythology Jamshid, the mythological king of Persia, ascended to the throne on this day and each year this is commemorated with festivities for two weeks. These festivities recall the story of creation and the ancient cosmology of Iranian and Persian people. It is also a holiday celebrated in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Zanzibar, Albania, and various countries of Central Asia, as well as among the Kurds. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday, it is also a holy day for adherents of the Bahá'í Faith and the Nizari Ismaili Muslims.[6] The Bahá'í Naw-rúz is stationary; the new year always starts at sunset March 20.[7] Sham El Nessim was an ancient Egyptian holiday which can be traced back as far as 2700 BC. It is still one of the public holidays in Egypt. Sometime during Egypt's Christian period (c. 200-639) the date moved to Easter Monday, but before then it coincided with the vernal equinox. In many Arab countries, Mother's Day is celebrated on the March equinox. Abrahamic tradition The Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox, although occasionally (7 times every 19 years) it will occur on the second full moon.[citation needed] The Christian churches calculate Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox. The official church definition for the equinox is March 21; however, as the Eastern Orthodox Churches use the older Julian calendar, while the Western Churches use the Gregorian calendar, both of which designate March 21 as the equinox, the actual date of Easter differs. The earliest possible Easter date in any year is therefore March 22 on each calendar. The latest possible Easter date in any year is April 25.[8] South Asia According to the sidereal solar calendar Vernal Equinox is erroneously celebrated throughout South Asia on the day when the sun enters the sidereal Aries generally around 14 April. It marks the beginning of the new year of the Tamil calendar and is celebrated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu This day is celebrated as the last day of the year according to the Bengali calendar and Assamese calendar in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and throughout the Eastern and North Eastern India. The day is known as Chaitra Sankranti in Bengali. The following is celebrated as the Bengali New Year's Day and Assamese Bihu. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharastra people celebrate new year ugadi set by Satavahana on the first morning after first new moon from the sidereal vernal equinox. Also the calculations of the great Indian Mathematician Bhaskaracharya proclaim the Ugadi day as the beginning of the New Year, New month and New day. In the Indian states Orissa, this day is celebrated as the new year around April 14. It is known as 'Vishuva Sankranti' (meaning "equal" in Sanskrit). In Kerala though the new year is on Chingam 1, the beginning of sidereal zodiac Leo, sidereal vernal equinox is celebrated much more than new year as 'Vishu' Europe in Norse paganism, a Dísablót was celebrated on vernal equinox.[9] Far East Japan Shunbun no hi Modern culture World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling, celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. World Citizen Day occurs on the March equinox.[10] In Annapolis, Maryland in the United States, boatyard employees and sailboat owners celebrate the spring equinox with the Burning Of The Socks festival. Traditionally, the boating community wears socks only during the winter. These are burned at the approach of warmer weather, which brings more customers and work to the area. Officially, nobody then wears socks until the next equinox.[11][12] More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox#March_equinox_commemorations -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
