solar calendar, celebrations which originally coincided with the March equinox now take place throughout South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia on the day when the Sun enters the sidereal Aries, generally around 14 April. In Cambodia, the Angkor Wat Equinox is a solar phenomenon which dates back to the reign of Suryavarman II. East Asia The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (节气, literally "climatic segments"), and the vernal equinox (Chūnfēn, ) marks the middle of the spring. In this context, the Chinese character 分 means "(equal) division" (within a season). In Japan, Vernal Equinox Day (春分の日 Shunbun no hi) is an official national holiday, and is spent visiting family graves and holding family reunions. Higan (お彼岸) is a Buddhist holiday exclusively celebrated by Japanese sects during both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. Europe Lieldienas in Norse paganism, a Dísablót was celebrated on the vernal equinox. Drowning of Marzanna The Americas Spring equinox in Teotihuacán The reconstructed Cahokia Woodhenge, a large timber circle located at the Mississippian culture Cahokia archaeological site near Collinsville, Illinois, is the site of annual equinox and solstice sunrise observances. Out of respect for Native American beliefs these events do not feature ceremonies or rituals of any kind. Modern culture World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling, celebrated every year on the day of the northward equinox. World Citizen Day occurs on the northward equinox. The Baháʼí calendar year starts at the sunset preceding the March equinox calculated for Tehran. In Annapolis, Maryland, United States, boatyard employees and sailboat owners celebrate the spring equinox with the "Burning of the Socks" festival. Traditionally, the boating community wears socks only during the winter. These are burned at the approach of warmer weather, which brings more customers and work to the area. Officially, nobody then wears socks until the next equinox. Neopagans observe the March equinox (referred to as Ostara) as a cardinal point on the Wheel of the Year. In the northern hemisphere some varieties of paganism adapt vernal equinox celebrations, while in the southern hemisphere pagans adapt autumnal traditions. International Astrology Day On 20 March 2014 and 20 March 2018, the March equinox was commemorated by an animated Google Doodle. See also September equinox June solstice December solstice References External links Spring Starts Today All Over America, Which Is Weird (19 March 2020) Spherical astronomy