At 4:28 a.m. on March 20 –Mexico City time–, the northern hemisphere will begin to experience the spring equinox and the southern hemisphere, the autumn equinox. It is a day when light and darkness are in perfect balance, which is why it is given that name: «equinox» means «equal night».
The equinox, for the cultures and civilizations closest to nature, highlights the entry of the Sun into the sign of Aries, a fire sign associated with action and beginning. In other words, it’s time to planting for agriculture, for the dew of world spirits –also called «semen of nature» to vitalize the earth and the human being.
In fact, this phenomenon had significant importance in numerous cultures throughout the ages. The oldest civilizations were in charge of carefully observing this type of astronomical events, promptly recording the alignments of the stars –mainly the Sun, the moon, Venus, among others– and establishing calendars of events considered important. Thanks to that constructions such as astronomical observatories were built, specially aligned with the equinoxes; and a couple of examples are the monument in Stonehenge, England, and the sphinx in Gizeh, Egypt.
In Mexico there are numerous astronomical and ceremonial centers to receive the spring equinox: Chichen-Itzá –Mérida–, Teotihuacán –Mexico State–, Cuicuilco–Mexico City–, Tenango del Valle, Malinalco –Mexico State–, Huitzingo –Higalgo–, Xochicalco, Tepanzolco and Tepoztlán –Morelos–, Monte Albán – Oaxaca–, Alta Vista –Zacatecas–. In all these places, celebrations are held around the equinox, where traditional dances are practiced, energy recharges –or «clean»–, concerts, among other activities.
It is often said that the equinox and the solstice are opportunities to observe both the environment in which we find ourselves and our relationship with nature. This in order to find meaning through the mirror of life and the cosmos, since it was believed that the world in which one lives was a microcosm of the superior world in which the Sun was reflected as the life of the human being and nature.
It might interest you