For most people, the equinox simply heralds a changing of the seasons. But for ancient cultures, equinoxes were something more of a time for celebration.
Even Google updated the doodle on its homepage when the equinox officially happened just after noon on Tuesday 20th. The doodle featured Google’s season protagonist Quinn playing music to enchant a creature out of the flowers.
Equinoxes happen twice per year (the vernal and autumnal equinox) when the sun crosses over the equator
The word “vernal” comes from the Latin word for spring, while equinox means “equal night” as both night and day last for an equal amount of time.
The Spring Equinox and the Autumn Equinox take place in March and September respectively.
They are followed by the Winter Solstice in December and the Summer Solstice in June.