How Do Different Cultures Celebrate The Spring Equinox?

Spring is in the air, but astronomical spring is only just beginning. This year, spring officially commences on 20 March, coinciding with the spring equinox (aka the vernal equinox), when day and night are of equal length. It’s a special day imbued with different meanings around the world; in the UK, the spring equinox is associated with Pagan traditions, especially at Stonehenge. Here’s how the day is celebrated around the world.

How Do Countries Around The World Celebrate The Spring Equinox?

India: Holi

In Nepal and India, Holi celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. With Hindu roots commemorating Lord Vishnu, the celebration involves throwing brightly coloured powder and water at each other, singing and dancing to celebrate the season’s renewal, symbolising hope, life and new beginnings. This year, Holi was celebrated on 13 and 14 March.

Mexico: Teotihuacán & Chichén Itzá

In Mexico, thousands gather at the Teotihuacán Pyramid and Chichén Itzá to honor the spring equinox, celebrating the new season and capturing the sun’s energy. At the Teotihuacán Pyramid, hundreds of pilgrims dress in white with red scarves and feathers in their hair, sing, dance and burn incense to the sound of tambourines, bells and conch shells.

Meanwhile, at Chichén Itzá, crowds gather to see a special light-and-shadow effect on El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcán), where the sun creates the illusion of a serpent moving down the pyramid’s steps, symbolizing the arrival of spring. This phenomenon of Light and Shadow is important for the Mayan Culture, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world every year to witness the spectacle of the descent of Kukulcán.

Iran/Central Asia: Nowruz

Iran’s version of the spring equinox is called Nowruz, meaning ‘new life’ in Persian. This is the Iranian new year, which is a celebration of renewal and new beginnings. It marks the first day of spring, with over 300 million people taking part in this celebration. Nowruz starts at the exact moment winter ends and spring begins: this year, 20 March at 12.31pm local time.

Weeks before Nowruz, families clean their homes in preparation, and the evening before Nowruz, children give pastries and sweets to neighbours and light bonfires and fireworks. It is also bad luck to stay indoors during this celebration, so families head out to the countryside or parks if they live in cities.

Japan: Shunbun No Hi

Japan has its own version of the spring equinox called Shunbun No Hi. This day celebrates the love of nature and living things. Initially a holiday aiming to honor ancestors, people maintain older traditions by visiting family graves and holding family reunions. It is part of a seven day period of festivals called Haru no Higan.

UK: Stonehenge

On 20 March 2025, druids and pagans will gather at Stonehenge at dawn to celebrate the spring equinox and watch the sunrise above the ancient stones at 6.11am. Normally restricted to paying visitors, Stonehenge grants special access to the general public four times a year: on each of the equinoxes and the solstices. For the 2025 spring equinox, visitors will once again be able to stand among the stones, though they are asked to respect the site and avoid touching or climbing on them.

Easy Ways To Celebrate The Spring Equinox

• Spend time outdoors: Go for a walk, hike, or picnic to welcome the longer, sunnier days and embrace the beauty of nature.
• Watch the sunrise or sunset: Mark the equinox by witnessing the balance of light and dark.
• Spring clean: Refresh your space with a deep clean to symbolise a fresh start.
• Gardening: Embrace growth by planting something new.
• Practice mindfulness or meditation: Reflect on personal growth and set new intentions.
• Celebrate with seasonal foods: Cook with fresh, seasonal spring ingredients like greens and citrus fruits.