15 Ways to Celebrate the Spring Vernal Equinox
The March equinox is a wonderful time to celebrate the spring in the Northern Hemisphere while the Southern Hemisphere welcomes the fall.
Even though the date changes slightly each year, the spring vernal equinox and fall autumnal equinox always occur at the same time. The season you welcome depends on the side of the equator you live on.
The spring and fall equinox typically falls between the 20th and 22nd of March. In 2017, the vernal and autumnal equinox occurs on Monday, March 20.
To learn more about the signs of spring’s arrival check out Search for Signs of Spring. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere and are welcoming the fall try these ways to celebrate the fall autumnal equinox.
Ways to Celebrate the Spring Vernal Equinox
The spring equinox is also called the March or vernal equinox and has long been celebrated as a time of renewal and rebirth.
Many cultures celebrate spring festivals and holidays–like Easter and Passover–around the equinox. As an example, Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the March Equinox.
The Fall Autumnal and Vernal Spring Equinox
There are two equinoxes every year. One occurs in March and the other in September. On the equinox, the Sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are said to be equal. Equinox is derived from Latin, meaning “equal night.”
In the southern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox occurs on the same day as the spring equinox. It marks the official beginning of fall. If you live in the southern hemisphere and are celebrating the autumnal equinox see 11 Ways to Celebrate the Fall Autumnal Equinox.
Below you will find 15 ways to celebrate the spring vernal equinox. Some of these suggestions are individual ways to celebrate while others can be done with family and friends. Feel free to do as many as you’d like or none at all. Create something meaningful for you and your family and you can’t go wrong.
15 Ways to Celebrate the Spring Vernal Equinox
1. Get Outside & Connect
Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature. Watch the sunrise and/or sunset, go for a walk in the park, take a bike ride, lay in the grass, or take a hike. As you do so, observe all the new life beginning around you.
For more outside activities check out Get Outside & Connect.
2. Plant New Life
This is a good time of year to start planting your flowers and gardens if you haven’t already. If you live in an area where it is still not possible to plant anything, you can start some plants indoors or get your yard and garden ready for late spring plantings.
You may enjoy Planting Spring Flowers or Planting Sunflowers with the kids.
3. Visit a Megalithic Monument
This may not be possible for many of us but the idea of it sure is fun! Stonehenge is open to visitors on the winter and summer solstices and spring and autumn equinoxes.
4. Bring Spring into your Home
- Pick or purchase a bouquet of spring flowers.
- Refresh and renew your home and body with essential oils. There is nothing like an essential oil diffuser to bring the fresh scents of spring into the home. To learn more check out Getting Started with Essential Oils for a Healthy Home.
5. Prepare a Family Feast
No spring celebration is really complete without a family meal to go along with it. For the solstice, celebrate with foods that honor the coming of spring — eggs, early spring greens, shoots, sprouts, seasonal local produce, local bread, wine, etc.
6. Have or Attend a Bonfire
A bonfire is a great way to celebrate the equinox. Tell stories, dance, sing, beat drums, play music, and celebrate the spring. Please be safe and follow city or county laws and regulations. For more information see 10 Tips for a Safe Bonfire with Kids.
7. Enjoy Spring Arts, Crafts, and STEAM Activities
Creating spring crafts is a great way to welcome in the season. Below I have provided a few options to choose from. I will be publishing many more in the next few weeks. Sign up for my newsletter below so you don’t miss anything!
- See Decorate eggs below
- How to Make an Spring/Easter Tree
- Upcycled Birdhouse Ornaments
- Top 10 Spring Chick Crafts
- DIY Spring/Easter Ornaments – many of these would be perfect for the solstice
- Rainbow Rainy Day Art STEAM
- Rock Balancing Stone Stacking STEAM
- Shadow Art STEAM
- All Season Hand Print Tree – This all season hand and fingerprint tree is a great activity to do with your child to introduce the idea of seasonal changes. Feel free to do all seasons or just a spring tree.
8. Decorate Eggs
If you’re not ready to decorate your Easter eggs on the solstice. You can decorate some wooden Easter eggs for displaying around your home. You can also add them to Easter baskets and hide them for egg hunts. Check out these Wooden Egg Crafts for lots of fun ideas!
9. Add Spring Decor to your Home
Decorate your home with spring decor. Try some of the spring arts and crafts found above to welcome the season, or create a spring nature table. For more information check out How to Create a Spring Nature Table.
10. Read Books about Spring
Read spring books with your kids to help them understand the equinox and the cyclical nature of the seasons. For a short and sweet list check out Spring Books for Kids.
11. Stand an Egg on its End
Legend has it that it is Easer to stand an egg on its end during the vernal equinox. I have never tried this, but it sounds like a great party trick to attempt while waiting for your spring solstice family feast.
12. Meditate and/or Practice Yoga
Meditate upon new spring life, and celebrate the change of seasons. On the equinox, day and night, dark and light are balanced. Meditate and/or practice yoga to create inner peace and balance.
13. Restore Balance in the Home
Restore balance in the home by doing a spring deep cleaning. Get rid of clutter and anything that you no longer need to make space for the new season. Check out How to Make Natural Cleaning Products.
14. Begin Something New
Solstices and equinoxes are a great time to let go of the old and begin anew. As the days begin to grow longer and the temperatures begin to warm, people begin to spend more time outdoors. It is a great time to begin something new.
- Make a list of everything you’ve been wanting to do.
- Pick your top three choices.
- Make a plan to start one and go from there. Don’t know where to start? See Creating Positive Habits.
15. Establish a Daily Rhythm
Spring is typically a time of renewal and rebirth. Establishing a rhythm will help you get organized and provide a framework for your day. It increases your ability to stay focused and get things done. Children also thrive on rhythms in the home. See How to Plan Your Daily Rhythm for Success for more information.
There are many ways to celebrate the spring equinox. Create something meaningful for you and your family and you can’t go wrong.
In the southern hemisphere, the fall autumnal equinox occurs on the same day as the spring vernal equinox. It marks the official beginning of fall.
If you live in the southern hemisphere and are celebrating the autumnal equinox see 11 Ways to Celebrate the Fall Autumnal Equinox.
You may also like
- Search for Signs of Spring
- Create a Spring Nature Table
- Spring Books for Kids
- Planting Spring Flowers
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You keep using the word solstice but it’s the equinox. The solstices are in June and December. Not the same thing as the equinox.
I’m aware of that Jeff, thank you. I’m not sure what article you are reading, but the article above states that we are celebrating the spring vernal equinox. I have read through it just to make sure I don’t have any typos and did not find any but there may be something I missed. Maybe you are confusing the links to my summer and winter solstice posts?
Festive ideas to celebrate one of nature’s original holidays! Great post.
Thank you! So glad you appreciated it 🙂
I’ve somehow never heard that about balancing an egg before! Looking forward to trying it out with my teen later today.
This is my second year running a Renewals & Rebirthings series on my blog in honor of this season and what it can offer us. I’m so excited to see you mention this aspect of Spring as well.
Thanks for these great tips!
Thanks, Kate!
I’ve haven’t been able to make an egg balance equinox or not! Let me know if it works for you. Spring has been about renewals and rebirth since the beginning of time. Enjoy!