Spring officially arrives for everyone, including astronomers on March 20. The word "Equinox" literally means "equal night". It's all about the balance of
light - not the myth of balancing eggs. On the universal date (UTC) of Friday,
March 20, 2009 at 11:44 (am) both the day and night are the same length. But
what's so special about it? It's a date that most of us recognize as symbolic of
changing href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/earth/why-earth-has-seasons/"
rel=external>seasons. North of href="http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/earth/"
rel=external>Earth's equator we welcome Spring, while people south of the
equator are gearing up for the cooler temperatures of Autumn. So where did the urban myth of balance eggs on vernal equinox come from? It may very well have been the good folks in China who orginally began the myth
by patiently practicing standing eggs on end during vernal equinox to symbolize
the restoration of balance to the world after a season of darkness. If this
symbol of fertility could be balanced on such a day of significance, then surely
nature was in harmony! |
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