It’s still snowing on the streets of Montreal, our boots are white with salt, and our eyes are darkened by the lack of sunlight. But we’re gaining precious minutes of sunshine every day, and we can increasingly tilt our heads back and soak up the gentle rays of late winter—like snowdrops or, more accessibly, like serotonin satellite dishes.
In the ancestral calendars (Mesopotamian, Celtic, Mayan) of the Northern Hemisphere, we always find a division of the year into two parts. The yearis divided between the season of light and the season of shadow. The division is made twice a year, when the axis of the sun and the earth create an equivalence between day and night. Twice a year, there is anequinox.
Equinoc
The word “equinox” comes from the Latin aequus ( equal) and nox (night). It is a day and night that each last 12 hours. The hours of light and the hours of darkness are equal.
On the celestial side, it is a time when the sun is perfectly aligned with the earth. Our planet’s axis of rotation is aligned with the sun without tilting to either side of the equator.
During the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere receive the same amount of light—and the same amount of shadow.
There are two equinoxes per year, in autumn and spring. In 2026, the spring equinox is on March 20 and the autumn equinox will be on September 21. In the southern hemisphere, the dates of the equinoxes are the same (obviously) but herald spring on September 21 and autumn on March 20.
Celebrating the spring equinox and the return of light
All over the world and across all cultures,we celebrate the spring equinox and the return ofthe earth’s fertility, balance, and light.
Pagan and Wiccan traditions based on the great Celtic festivals celebrate Ostara with bonfires, painted eggs, and seeds planted in the newly fertile soil.
In India, it’s the festival of Holi —colors are thrown into the air, bringing life back to the streets with huge celebrations.
The indigenous peoples of North America alsocelebrate the return of spring with their own festivals and rituals.
Celebrating the spring equinox in Montreal
In Montreal, to celebrate the spring equinox on March 20, we recommend:
- of eating eggs
- painting eggs with spring colors
- lighting candles or making a fire (for those who have a fireplace and are allowed to use it).
- planting seeds and seedlings—indoors, on the windowsill.
- to go for a walk in nature and look for crocuses and snowdrops.
Happy spring equinox!