Happy Vernal Equinox Day

Time for all of us to let out a big sigh of relief, we made it through another brutal Upper Midwest Winter.  Spring officially arrives today at 5:45 PM Central Standard Time.

The Vernal Equinox is one of two times during the year when day and night are of equal length, both being 12 hours long.  The other time it happens is in the Fall and is called the Autumnal Equinox.  On both days, at the exact time of the equinox, the sun is precisely above the equator, meaning half the earth is illuminated by the sun's rays and the other half is in darkness.

• Sioux Falls Pothole Patrol Out in Full Force

In ancient times, the Vernal Equinox marked the start of the new year.  Most of the ancient New Year's rites took place around this time.  A lot of these rituals included fasting, fire, ringing bells, cleansing houses and temples, mock battles between life and death (or good and evil), release of sexual energy, feasts and overall merriment. It's also probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx to point towards the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.

There's also a saying that "In the spring, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of love." At the same time, most women turn to thoughts of spring cleaning. The Vernal Equinox represents renewal for the home, as well as nature. The act of “spring cleaning” is said to remove any negative energy accumulated over the dark winter months and prepares the home for the positive growing energy of spring and summer.

On a much lighter note - it's also the day you're suppose to wash your office coffee cup!

(Source: Brownielocks.com)