EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SPRING EQUINOX

by Pam North

The Spring Equinox.  Its names have been many:  Vernal Equinox, Easter, 
Ostara, Ostra, Eostar, Eostre, Alban Eilir, Alban Elfed, Feast of the 
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Festival of the Treees, Lady Day, 
NawRuz, Na Ruz, Rites of Spring; all occur in the middle of March.
Whatever the name, the significance is the beginning of Spring.  The Goddess 
manifests herself, carrying her basket of eggs, and is accompanied by the 
Hare or Rabbit, a manifestation of the God.  Green has been the sacred color
of this festival since ancient times, representing new growth, the greening
of the land with vegetation.

Religions around the world observe holy days and seasonal days of celebration
in March and April, and these days are linked to the spring or vernal equinox.
Three main themes are associated with this time:  conception and pregnancy
leading to birth; victory of a god of light (rebirth, resurrection, life) 
over the powers of darkness (death); descent of the god or goddess into the 
underworld for three days (a popular theme known as "the harrowing of Hell").
Religious diversity is viewed as a positive influence by those intelligent and 
tolerant individuals who, while valuing their own traditions, simultaneously
respect those of other faiths, realizing that all of the diverse beliefs in 
our common humanity generally have the goal of inspiring people to lead more 
ethical and fulfilling lives.

The seasons of the year are the result of the axis and rotation of the earth. 
Rotating similarly to a top or gyroscope, the earth points at a continuously
fixed 23.5 degree tilt toward a point in space near the North Star.  As the 
earth revolves around the sun, the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the 
sun than the northern hemisphere during half the year, and during the rest of 
the year the reverse is true.  In the Northern Hemisphere at noon, the sun 
appears high in the sky in the summertime, and low in the sky in the winter.
The greatest number of daylight hours occurs at the time of the year when the 
sun reaches its highest elevation at the beginning of the summer solstice; 
the nighttime hours are maximum when the sun's lowest elevation occurs about 
December 21st, on the first day of the winter solstice.  Almost halfway 
between the winter and summer solstices is the time of the vernal or spring 
equinox, and it is one of the two times when the daytime and nighttime cycles
are each equally almost exactly 12 hours long.  Every place on earth 
experiences a 12-hour day twice a year at the spring and fall equinoxes.

The lunar calendar was used by the early Romans; months alternated between 29 
and 30 days.  Because it was not a precise measure; it gradually fell out of 
step with the seasons.  The calendar's base was switched from lunar to solar 
in a reformation instigated by Julius Caesar, and the day on which the vernal 
equinox occurred was changed to March 25th. The length of the year was fixed 
at 365 days, with an additional leap-year day added every fourth year.  This 
made the average length of a year equal to 365.2 days, fairly close to the 
actual value of 365.2422 days. The annual error of .0078 days accumulated over
time until it became unmanageable, so a second reform of the calendar was 
ordered by Pope Gregory XIII.  The new system specified March 21, 1582 CE as 
the date of the vernal equinox; the year 1582 was shortened by ten days; 
future centennial years (1600, 1700.....2000) were not considered leap years 
unless they were divisible by 400.  The Gregorian Calendar continues in general
usage today.  Its .0003 day annual error will accumulate and eventually 
necessitate an elimination of a leap-year day circa 4915 CE.

Spring for Gilpin County residents is tantalizingly near; glimmers of it are 
evident on the balmy days of the waning winter season.  The familiar words 
"Let it snow, let it snow..." might more appropriately be sung as "Let it go, 
let it go..." after these long months of snowdrifts, chilly winds, and freezing
temperatures.  Hang in there, everyone.....it won't be long now.