Spring Equinox: When Does Spring Really Start – and How to Make the Most of It

When Is the Spring Equinox: Exact Dates and Times for 2024, 2025, and 2026

The spring equinox in 2026 occurs on March 20th at 3:46 PM Central European Time (CET). A year earlier, in 2025, it occurred on March 20th at 10:01 AM CET.

The contrast is even starker with 2024, when the equinox arrived at just 4:06 AM CET – that's more than 6 hours earlier than in 2025 .

This shift comes down to a fundamental mismatch between the calendar year and the astronomical year : the astronomical year runs about 365 days and 6 hours, while the regular calendar year is only 365 days.

So every non-leap year, the equinox shifts about six hours later. In 2023 it occurred at 10:24 PM CET. Without a correction, 2024's equinox would have landed in the late afternoon.

But 2024 was a leap year – adding February 29th absorbed nearly three years' worth of accumulated shift, moving the equinox back to the early morning (4:06 AM CET). From there, the six-hours-per-year shift continues: 10:01 AM in 2025, then 3:46 PM in 2026.

Even though the astronomical equinox now falls on March 20th, the Church still calculates Easter using rules set at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 – which used the ecclesiastical full moon and treated March 21st as the start of spring , because that's when the equinox actually occurred at the time. The real astronomical date plays no role in that calculation.

In general, the spring equinox happens between March 19th and 21st , with March 20th being the most common date.

The Gregorian Calendar Mystery: Why Doesn't Spring Start on March 21st?

When the Council of Nicaea set the rules for calculating Easter in AD 325, it worked from the astronomical reality of the time: the equinox occurred around March 21st.

The Julian calendar in use then was slightly longer than the actual astronomical year, causing a drift of roughly 3 days every 400 years . By 1582, that error had grown to a full 10-day gap between the calendar date and the actual equinox.

So Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new, more precise system in 1582 (the Gregorian calendar) and simultaneously skipped 10 days to bring the equinox back to March 21st. The reform rolled out gradually across different countries over the following centuries.

What Is the Spring Equinox? The Physics Behind the Magic

From a physics standpoint, the spring equinox is the moment when the Sun is positioned directly above the celestial equator, resulting in nearly equal 12-hour periods of day and night globally.

Earth's axis tilts at 23.5° relative to its orbital plane. That tilt, combined with Earth's orbit around the Sun, means the intensity and length of sunlight shifts throughout the year – which is what creates the seasons.

On the equinox, neither pole is tilted toward the Sun. Sunlight hits the equator head-on, and day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on the planet.

Day and Night in Balance: Why Is the Day Actually a Few Minutes Longer?

Thanks to atmospheric refraction (the bending of light as it passes through air layers in the atmosphere) we can still see the Sun for a few minutes after it has physically dipped below the horizon .

The atmosphere acts like a lens, bending sunlight toward us. As a result, on the equinox, daytime runs about 6–8 minutes longer than night.

Traditions and Rituals: From the Celts to the Modern Spring Cleanse

For pre-Christian cultures, the spring and autumn equinoxes were major events. They marked when to plant, when to move herds to summer pastures, and when to celebrate.

The human calendar was nature's calendar – and the equinox was one of its main pillars.

The Slavic Vesna and Saying Goodbye to Morana

In Slavic folklore, spring was personified as Vesna , the embodiment of fertility and renewal.

However, it is worth noting that Vesna as a distinct goddess with her own cult isn't documented in historical sources . She's more of a modern reconstruction, drawn from folkloric invocations of spring and the romanticism of the 19th century.

Morana, the goddess of winter and darkness, is more broadly accepted by scholars as a genuine mythological figure .

The arrival of spring was heralded by returning birds, which Slavic ancestors celebrated by baking small bird-shaped pastries . These stylized little birds were called “zhavoronki” (skylarks) and symbolized resurrection and springtime.

The tradition of driving out winter survived in folk customs well into the Middle Ages. During “Death Sunday”, people performed the ritual of bringing out a straw figure of Death attached to a stake (representing Morana) that was thrown into a river, burned, or buried.

The Catholic Church had little tolerance for this pagan custom and was actively suppressing it from approximately 1366 onwards. Yet the tradition survived despite the Church’s efforts.

Ostara: The Symbolism of Eggs and Hares

In Germanic tradition, spring celebrations were associated with a goddess called Eostre (also Ostara). Virtually the only historical source is a single mention by the Anglo-Saxon scholar Bede the Venerable in the 8th century, who noted a month named after her.

The details of her cult – including the hare as a herald of spring – come mainly from later modern reconstructions – especially Jacob Grimm's work from 1835.

Eggs as a symbol of renewal and new life appear in spring celebrations across many cultures, independently of one another.

Whether Easter's egg-and-bunny symbolism directly descends from Eostre's cult or evolved alongside widespread springtime fertility motifs remains disputed among historians.

How to Celebrate the First Day of Spring in 2026 (Practical Tips)

Spring Cleaning – Freshen Up Your Home (and Your Head)

“Spring cleaning” isn’t just a modern phrase, it’s a tradition with deep roots. Slavs and Celts would “drive” winter out of their homes: sweeping thresholds, throwing open windows, lighting new fires.

The physical transformation of a space was meant to mirror an inner renewal. Try taking that symbolism seriously this year. March 20th, 2026 is the perfect opportunity to slow down, check in with your thoughts, and reflect on what you want to leave behind – and what you want to move toward.

March 20th as International Happiness Day: Connecting with Nature

The UN designated March 20th as International Happiness Day – and it's no coincidence the date lines up with the spring equinox.

Research shows that time spent consciously in nature lowers stress and lifts your mood. Get outside and take at least a 20-minute walk in the fresh air. Watch the birds returning from faraway lands, notice the plants and flowers waking up from the long sleep.

Our ancestors took these signals for granted. For the modern person, paying conscious attention to nature is a return to our roots – and a small act of rebellion against a hectic lifestyle.

Try celebrating this year's equinox with intention, even if it's just a brief moment spent outdoors. These traditions have survived thousands of years. They deserve a few minutes today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why doesn't the spring equinox always fall on March 21st?

The spring equinox usually falls on March 20th because the year is 365.2422 days long and leap years only partially compensate for that. March 21st is a holdover from the Julian calendar, whose inaccuracies were corrected by the Gregorian reform in 1582. The equinox can occur anywhere between March 19th and 21st.

Is day and night really equal on the equinox?

Not quite. Due to atmospheric refraction, the day is actually about 6–8 minutes longer than the night. True day-night equality comes around 3–4 days before the astronomical equinox – roughly March 16–17.

What happens in nature during the spring equinox?

As daylight grows longer, nature begins to stir. Birds set off on their journeys, plants start to bud, and amphibians wake from their winter sleep. For many living things, the length of the day matters more than the temperature outside. Nature follows the light, not the calendar.

What's the difference between an equinox and a solstice?

The equinox happens twice a year – it's when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are roughly equal in length. A solstice marks either the longest day (summer) or the shortest day (winter) of the year.

How does the spring equinox affect horoscopes and astrology?

In tropical astrology, the spring equinox marks the moment the Sun enters Aries – and therefore the start of the entire astrological year. That's why the tropical system is tightly tied to the astronomical cycle rather than fixed calendar dates. The equinox marks the point of renewal and new beginnings .