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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

This Friday is the first day of spring. The first day of spring is called the vernal equinox. The term vernal is Latin for "spring" and equinox means "equal night."



Today's Random Fact:

The fall and spring equinoxes are the only two times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west.

The early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising sun on the spring equinox.

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Bonus Fact:

According to Greek myth, the return of spring coincides with the return of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, who is the goddess of plants and fertility.

At Chichen Itza, Mexico, the Mayan celebrate the first day of spring with 'The Return of the Sun Serpent.' On the evening on the spring equinox, the setting sun creates a triangular shadow on the El Castillo pyramid that looks like a descending snake, or the feather serpent god Kukulkan.

Every year on the first day of spring, people in Poland gather to burn an effigy and throw it in the river to bid winter farewell.