Monday, 19 March 2018

I am the old Pagan at the March Equinox

I am the old Pagan at the March Equinox. The dark and the light are once more in balance. There are now 12 hours of light and dark in each day. In Russia s predictable election result is announced in the UK a right wing government seeks to distract us all by raising a Russian threat.. two right wing government's feed off another. While the May government cut free school meals and Stephen Kinnock strokes his ego and his ambition. It is all so predictable..
Channel 4 exposes Cambridge Analytics but nothing is said by Putin, May or Kinnock about it. Each is different yet each of them says nothing about the false consciousness that inflicts the world yet each gains in a unique way from not challenging the "common sense" view that each in a unique and different way gains from. Yep it's most important that we all loom into the balance if light and dark...and ask the question..who benefits from a particular set of interpretations.. yes it's the March Equinox...enjoy

March Equinox' Importance in Culture

In many cultures, the March Equinox marks a time of transition and new beginnings. It's the Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere it's the Autumnal (Fall) Equinox.

Here are some ways people around the world celebrate and observe the March Equinox:

Some Bring Out the Easter Eggs

In addition to being the Spring (Vernal) Equinox in the North and the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox in the South, the date of the March Equinox plays a huge role in calculating the dates for when to celebrate Jewish Passover and Christian Easter.

How is Easter and other Holidays celebrated?

In many Christian cultures, Easter eggs are synonymous with Easter. Also known as Paschal eggs, these are usually decorated chicken eggs that symbolize fertility and rebirth. Many Easter related events feature the Easter egg as the central theme. Traditional games like egg hunts, where children search for colorful Easter eggs; egg rolling, where eggs are rolled down a hill; and egg dancing, where eggs are laid on the floor and people dance while trying not to damage them, are held all around the world.

...And Try to Balance Them

An ancient Chinese tradition calls for balancing eggs, a symbol of fertility, on the day of the March Equinox for good luck and prosperity.
This ancient custom has given rise to a modern myth. Every year, during the March Equinox people claim that it is the only day of the year when an egg can be perfectly balanced on its end. A version of the claim suggests that eggs can only be balanced on their end at the exact time of the Equinox. The truth is that there is nothing magical about the Equinox or the time it occurs - you can balance an egg perfectly on its end on any other day as well.

Others Ring in Their New Year

The Iranian New Year (Nowruz, No-Ruz, No-Rooz or No Ruz) occurs during the time of the March Equinox, in accordance with the Persian astronomical calendar. It has been celebrated for over 3000 years and is rooted in the traditions of Zoroastrianism. No-Ruz celebrations last for about 12 days. Preparations start well in advance and include buying new clothes for family members and thoroughly cleaning homes. Wheat or lentil representing new growth is grown in a flat dish a few days before the New Year and is called Sabzeh (green shoots).

In Japan, People Remember their Ancestors

Higan (Higan-e or Ohigan), is a week of Buddhist services in Japan during the March and September Equinox. Both equinoxes have been national holidays since the Meiji period (1868-1912).
"Higan" means the “other shore” and refers to dead spirits who reach Nirvana after crossing the river of existence. It celebrates the spiritual move from the world of suffering to the world of enlightenment.

Many Celebrate the Earth

Some organizations schedule Earth Day for March 20, while others set the date for April 22. For some, the holiday is when people from all nations, religions and cultural backgrounds celebrate their similarities: living on Earth. For others, Earth Day is observed to promote the protection the natural environment from pollution and other destructive forces.