Vernal Equinox and the Folk Music Tradition

The Vernal Equinox is upon us and with it comes the promise of warmer weather and longer days. For many, this also heralds the start of the folk music festival season.

What is the Vernal Equinox?

The vernal equinox is the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north and day and night are of equal length. It occurs around March 20-21 every year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox marks the start of spring.

The Astronomical Definition

In astronomy, the vernal equinox (also called the March equinox or the Northward equinox) is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward. The name is derived from the Latin words for “vernal” and “equal night”, because around the equinox, daytime and nighttime are about equal in duration all over the world.

The vernal equinox occurs every year around March 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere (and around September 23 or 24 in the Southern Hemisphere). It signals the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall (or autumn) in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Metaphysical Definition

In metaphysics, the vernal equinox is the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator on its way north. This happens twice a year, around March 20-21 and September 22-23.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” On the day of the Vernal Equinox, night and day are nearly equal in length all over the world. The Sun sets due west and rises due east on this special day.

The ancients saw this time as a balancing of opposites: light and dark, male and female, hot and cold. It was a time of new beginnings, when nature’s forces were in perfect harmony.

The Vernal Equinox is still celebrated in many cultures around the world. In Japan, it’s known as hanami, or “flower viewing.” The Cherry Blossom Festival is held during hanami, when people come together to appreciate the beauty of nature and spend time with friends and family.

In Iran, the Vernal Equinox is known as Norooz, or “new day.” It marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated with feasts, music, and dance. Families also decorate their homes with greenery to represent new life.

The vernal equinox has also been traditionally associated with Easter in Christian cultures. This is because Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Vernal Equinox.

The Vernal Equinox in Folk Music

The Vernal Equinox, also known as the Spring Equinox, is the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are of equal length. It occurs on March 20th or 21st every year. For many people, the Vernal Equinox is a time of rebirth and renewal. It is also a time when the folk music tradition comes alive.

The British Tradition

The spring equinox (also called the vernal equinox) is the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night of equal length. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin for “equal night.” The spring equinox falls on March 20 or 21 in most years, but can occur on the 19th or 22nd in rare cases.

In British folk music, the vernal equinox is often commemorated with songs and dances. One of the most famous is “Sir Patrick Spens,” a ballad about a shipwreck that was reputed to have happened on the day of the spring equinox in 1286. Other popular songs include “The Seasons,” “Green Grow the Rushes, O,” and “The Land o’ exchange an Barter.”

The American Tradition

The vernal equinox is one of the four major solar terms and falls on March 20 or 21. It ushers in the spring season. The ancients believed that everything in the universe was made up of Yin and Yang energies, which were in a state of constant change and interaction with each other. The vernal equinox was the time when these two forces were supposedly in perfect balance.

Folk music is often about the natural world and the changing seasons, so it’s no surprise that there are many songs about the vernal equinox. In the American tradition, these songs are often about leaving winter behind and welcoming the warmer weather of spring.

The Vernal Equinox Today

The vernal equinox, also called the March equinox or Northward equinox, is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the astrological year.

The Modern Folk Scene

The modern folk scene in America has its roots in the City Folk Revival of the late 1950s and early 1960s. The driving force behind this movement was the music of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, who inspired a new generation of singers and songwriters to create their own version of American folk music.

The City Folk Revival gave birth to a new wave of folk groups like the Weavers, Peter, Paul and Mary, and the Kingston Trio. These groups popularized folk music with mainstream audiences and helped to inspire a new generation of singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Phil Ochs.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the folk scene was transformed by the addition of electric instruments and a more rock & roll sensibility. This new sound was coined “folk-rock” and was popularized by groups like The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Lovin’ Spoonful.

The mid-1970s saw a renewed interest in traditional folk music, thanks in part to the popularity of British folk-rock group Fairport Convention. This “neo-traditional” sound was adopted by American artists such as Jody Stecher, Kate Wolf, Pete Seeger, and Emmylou Harris.

Today, the folk scene is as varied as ever, encompassing everything from traditional ballads to contemporary singer-songwriters to progressive bluegrass bands. There are many different ways to enjoy folk music, whether it’s attending a concert, listening to records, or playing an instrument yourself.

Vernal Equinox Festivals

In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of spring is marked by the vernal equinox, which falls on or around March 20th. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin for “equal night”— reflecting the fact that at the time of the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length. For many people, the vernal equinox signals a time of rebirth and renewal after the long winter months. It’s no surprise, then, that festivals and celebrations have sprung up around this time of year to mark the occasion.

One of the most popular vernal equinox festivals is Ostara, a pagan festival that honors the Germanic goddess Eastre. Ostara is celebrated with feasts, gift-giving, and egg decorating— activities that are thought to symbolize new life. Other popular Vernal Equinox festivals include Nowruz (the Persian New Year), Songkran (the Thai New Year), and Hanami (the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival).

For many people, these festivals are a chance to come together with family and friends to celebrate the start of spring. But for others, they offer an opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy some much-needed time outdoors. No matter how you choose to celebrate, there’s no denying that the Vernal Equinox is a special time of year!