Vernal Equinox – A Well Balanced Day
It is late and I am attempting to perform a feat that I have not oft done voluntarily since I was in college. (I bet you were thinking “doing 10 shots of tequila?â€. Nope, that is not it. I have done that many times since college.) I am trying to stay up all night. I am off tomorrow for sunny and glamorous California to visit my sister in Lancaster (outside of LA) and my BFF in San Diego. My flight leaves way too early so I figured I would just stay awake and try to get a jump on jet lag.
But it is a good night to be up all night as this is the night that gardeners in the chilly climes look forward to every year. This is the night that Spring begins. It is the Vernal Equinox. At exactly 8:07PM… time check… yesterday, tulip shoots and leaf buds magically appeared and we are now on the official count down to the next big gardening date – LAST FROST DATE.
I found it very fitting that today, from beneath the melting snow from the last snow storm, I spied the very first snowdrops of the season in my garden. It gladdened my heart. But I have to be honest, it did not gladden it as much as the knowledge that tomorrow… wait… later today, I will be in sunny and warm California for a week. Back on topic.
Vernal Equinox is an odd day, where the yin and yang of the day are in perfect balance. Kind of like the perfect peanut and jelly sandwich. Or like an egg which might be why amazing egg things are said to happen on this day.
- Eggs can be balanced on their ends
- Rabbits can lay eggs (ahm, wanna guess where the idea for the Easter bunny came from?)
Once upon a time (like before good ol’ Julius screwed with the calander), the Vernal Equinox was the start of the New Year. Which makes a whole lot more sense to me than starting the New Year in the middle of the snow and gloom of winter.
The Egyptians, the Celts and the Mayans all built monuments to mark and, most likely, celebrate this time of the year.
I myself will be celebrating with a couple of Red Bulls and chocolate covered expresso beans. Here is a cheer to the Vernal Equinox and the much awaited start of the spring season!
Read other bloggers posts on the Vernal Equinox:
Here Comes the Sun!
Persephone Rises
Happy Equinox!
Happy Spring Equinox
Any post that mentions 10 shots of tequila and the perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich will always get my attention. Now that’s what I call balanced.
Happy Spring. 🙂
Staying up is somewhat of a specialty of mine. I stay up for 36 hours at least a dozen times a year, and I’ve made it 106 before without caffeine. Not that I’d do that again voluntarily.
Suggestions:
1. Drink lots of water, a full bladder does wonders to keep you upright.
2. Eat lots of extra food. The midnight oil you’re burning is extra calories and your body needs them to keep functioning beyond normal hours.
3. Avoid caffeine if you can. It will cause you to crash and fall asleep. The only exception is if you keep a constant steady stream up, but eventually you’ll lapse and out you’ll go.
4. Keep active and stay in well lit spaces. Computer monitors, especially with white screens up can jog you into wakefulness.
Ya Spring!
Anthony – Happy Spring to you too!
Chris – Thanks for the great tips!
Hanna, I hate you, you know… CALIFORNIA! You could have picked me up on the way! Seriously, have fun!!
Thanks for the link! 🙂