Today is the day of the spring equinox: prohibitions, traditions, and folk signs.

Every year in March, the day of the spring equinox arrives, when the duration of day and night becomes equal. This also marks the beginning of astronomical spring, symbolizing the rebirth of nature and the start of a new life cycle. In 2025, the spring equinox occurred on March 20 at 11:01 AM Eastern European Time. 'Glavcom' tells about the prohibitions, traditions, and folk signs related to the spring equinox.

What the spring equinox means

The spring equinox is an astronomical phenomenon when day and night have nearly equal duration. At this moment, the Sun crosses the celestial equator, moving into the Northern Hemisphere, which signals the start of astronomical spring. After this, days become longer, and nights shorter, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

This phenomenon occurs annually between March 19 and 21, and in 2025, the spring equinox fell on March 20 at 11:01 AM Kyiv time. In the Southern Hemisphere, they celebrate the autumn equinox at this time, marking the arrival of autumn.

Since ancient times, this day has been considered a moment of renewal, the beginning of a new cycle in nature, and preparation for the fertile season. Many cultures assigned mystical significance to this phenomenon, associated with the balance between light and darkness.

What not to do on the day of the spring equinox:

• Do not shout at children or harm them.
• Do not clarify relationships or provoke conflicts.
• Do not refuse requests; otherwise, you may invite misfortune into your home.
• Do not think negatively; otherwise, the entire year may be the same.
• Do not go to bed too late, or you will not escape trouble.
• Do not set out on a journey; be cautious and do not take risks.
• Do not experiment with your appearance.
• Do not participate in crowded events.

On this day, it is necessary to:

• Clean the house and throw out the trash.
• Bring in blooming willow and sweep away all the old and negative from the house with it.
• Gently whip a sick person with willow for recovery, and a healthy one to prevent illness.
• Leave a few willow twigs in the house to protect it and the inhabitants from evil spirits, as well as sadness and sorrow.
• Make peace with those you have quarreled with.
• Couples should definitely meet on this day and spend time together to keep their feelings alive.

Traditions of the spring equinox

In ancient times, on this day, people baked buns or cookies in the shape of larks. They treated children with these little birds. It was believed that they needed special care on this day to grow up loving and caring for their parents.

Also, various small items were hidden in the buns before baking - a berry, a thread, an onion. Based on what one would find, they would determine their future fate. On the day of the spring equinox, girls sang spring songs, and young men lit bonfires - they jumped over them and led livestock through them to avoid illness.

Signs on the day of the spring equinox:

• If water is dripping from the roofs, it will be a fertile year.
• If it becomes cold by evening, expect frosts.
• If cranes arrive on this day, spring will be late.
• Frost on the day of the spring equinox means there will be forty more days of such weather.
• If birds have already returned from their migration, it will be a good harvest of grain.

Let us remind you that in March 2025, a rare astronomical event will occur - a partial solar eclipse. This phenomenon belongs to the cycle of solar eclipses that repeat periodically. Such events provide astronomers with the opportunity to study the Sun's atmosphere and other cosmic processes. Thus, it is interesting not only from an aesthetic viewpoint but also from a scientific perspective.