Cultures Around the World Mark the Spring Equinox With Unique Traditions

Each year, the arrival of spring is marked by the vernal equinox, the moment when day and night are nearly equal in length around the world. This year, the spring equinox occurs on March 20 at 10:46 a.m., signaling the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

While many people simply welcome warmer weather and longer days, cultures around the globe celebrate the equinox with traditions ranging from fiery festivals to ancient architectural spectacles.

One of the most dramatic celebrations takes place in Zurich, Switzerland, where locals symbolically chase away winter by burning a figure known as the Boogg. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. The Boogg, whose name roughly translates to “bogeyman,” is typically built as an 11-foot-tall snowman-like effigy and placed atop a large bonfire.

As crowds gather, the effigy is set ablaze. The climax arrives when flames reach the Boogg’s head, which is packed with firecrackers. When it finally explodes, spectators cheer as the fiery display signals the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

Thousands of miles away in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the spring equinox draws visitors to the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá. At the site’s famous pyramid, El Castillo, the setting sun creates a remarkable illusion tied to Mayan astronomy and architecture.

As the sun lowers in the sky, shadows form along the pyramid’s northern staircase, appearing like a serpent slithering down the steps toward a stone snake head at the base. The effect honors Kukulkan, the feathered serpent deity worshiped by the Maya, and symbolizes the return of life and the beginning of the planting season.

In Japan, the equinox is marked by a quieter but deeply meaningful observance known as Shunbun no Hi, or Vernal Equinox Day. The holiday falls during the Haru no Higan, a seven-day period when families remember and honor their ancestors.

During this time, many Japanese families visit gravesites, clean the burial areas, and leave offerings such as flowers, incense, and sweet rice balls as symbolic nourishment for departed loved ones. The observance reflects the belief that the equinox, when day and night are balanced, symbolizes harmony between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Shunbun no Hi also coincides with another beloved sign of the season: the start of cherry blossom blooms, when Japan’s famous sakura trees begin to flower.

From burning winter effigies in Europe to ancient solar displays in Central America and quiet family rituals in Japan, the spring equinox has inspired traditions for centuries. Though the customs differ widely, they share a common theme: celebrating renewal, balance, and the long-awaited arrival of spring.