At 1:14 am eastern time on March 20th, spring arrives in Maine, as the hours of sunlight and darkness reach a balance. The word equinox is derived from Latin meaning “equal night” while vernal means spring. This is the time of year to celebrate new birth and the promise of warm weather.
Ancient pagan religions associated the vernal equinox with both eggs and rabbits representing the fertility of the moon. Christianity later borrowed these concepts and adapted them to fit the celebration of Easter and the promise or eternal life.
Both Christianity and paganism celebrate the victory of light over darkness during the vernal equinox. For Christians, Easter represents Jesus (the light) conquering the darkness (death) while other groups celebrate the physical domination of the daylight over darkness. Either way the vernal equinox brings the promise of spring and the rebirth of green living things.
The ancient Chinese practice of standing an egg on end during the vernal equinox does not seem to hold water – but that doesn’t stop people from trying. According to this ancient belief, if the egg balances on its end on the vernal equinox, it is a sign that all of nature is in balance.
According to the Science Alliance from Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education at Wichita State University, eggs can be balanced on end at any time of the year. Your attempts to accomplish this feat on the vernal equinox is no more likely that any other day of the year.
For more notable events in the Maine skies during 2012, visit Maine skies: meteor showers, planets and full moon calendar 2012
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