The Vernal, or Spring Equinox in 2025 fell on Mar. 20, marking the start of a new season. This happens when the sun is directly above the equator, resulting in nearly equal daylight and nighttime hours.

The equinox has been celebrated by various cultures throughout history as it symbolizes renewal, rebirth, fertility and new beginnings. Here are some notable equinox celebrations around the world.

Nowruz (Persian New Year) is a 3,000-year-old festival marking the new year rooted in Zoroastrian traditions. Families clean their homes ("spring cleaning"), set up a Haft-Seen table and gather outside.

During this event, many gather at the El Castillo pyramid to watch the Sun as it creates the illusion of a serpent slithering down the steps. The event honors Kukulcán, the feathered serpent god.

Holi is a Hindu festival on March 13-14 that welcomes spring, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. People throw vibrant colored powders, dance and celebrate with music.

Shunbun no Hi is a Japanese public holiday on the spring equinox where people pay respects to ancestors by visiting family graves, embrace harmony with nature and celebrate living things.

Here are some ways you can celebrate the spring equinox throughout the new season. Consider this time a new season of your life as well and use it to welcome new beginnings.

Cleaning probably isn’t your first choice for a celebration but it is a great way to start anew. Use this time as the push you need to get organized or tidy up.

You can also partake in a spiritual spring cleaning by letting in fresh air and cleansing your space with herbs like sage or lavender. This has roots in ancient traditions and is a way to clear out old energy for new beginnings.

Whether you begin uprooting old plants and replacing them with spring blooms or start a mini garden in the house, gardening is a classic way to celebrate the beginning of spring.

The temperature is getting warmer and there is more sunshine with the arrival of spring so there is no better way to celebrate that than simply going outside. Go on a hike, bike ride, walk, etc.

Another symbol of the spring equinox is balance. Try meditation or yoga to find inner peace and equilibrium. Do so out in nature or in a calm, sunlit space.

The spring equinox is the perfect time for goal-setting. Embrace the spirit of growth in the air and journal about what you want to grow in your life by way of your goals and intentions. 

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