Written by Alex DeMoulin, Illustration by Nariste Alieva
Equinox is a term used to describe the two times in a year when the sun is directly above the equator, resulting in equal amounts of daylight and darkness. The equinox marks the beginning of spring, a time when the days become longer and the weather starts to warm up. For many cultures around the world, this is a time of celebration, renewal, and hope.
The word «equinox» comes from the Latin words «aequus» meaning equal and «nox» meaning night. This phenomenon occurs twice a year, around March 20th and September 22nd.
The equinox has been celebrated by various cultures throughout history, with many traditions and rituals associated with it.
In ancient times, people believed that the equinox was a time of balance and harmony between light and dark forces. It was also seen as a time of renewal, growth, and new beginnings.
One of the most well-known celebrations of the equinox is the spring equinox, or Ostara. This celebration marks the beginning of spring, when nature awakens from its winter slumber. Many people celebrate this time by planting seeds, decorating eggs, and lighting bonfires to symbolize new life and growth.
In modern times, many people still celebrate the equinox through various traditions. Peoples of Central Asia, for example, have a beautiful tradition celebrating the arrival of spring, which is called Nooruz or Navruz.
Nooruz or Navruz is a Persian word that means «new day» and it is celebrated on March 21st or 22nd, depending on when the equinox falls. This holiday has been celebrated for over 3,000 years, and it is considered one of the most important holidays in Central Asia.
During Nooruz people clean their homes thoroughly to get rid of any negative energy from the previous year. They also decorate their homes with good food, flowers and other symbols of spring. People wear new clothes and visit friends and family to exchange food and gifts.
One of the most important traditions during Nooruz is setting up a table called «Haft Seen» which means «seven S’s». The table is decorated with seven items that start with the letter «S» in Persian. These items include:
- Sabzeh (sprouts) – symbolizing rebirth
- Samanu (sweet pudding) – symbolizing wealth
- Senjed (dried fruit) – symbolizing love
- Seer (garlic) – symbolizing health
- Seeb (apple) – symbolizing beauty
- Serkeh (vinegar) – symbolizing patience
- Sumac (spice) – symbolizing sunrise
Kyrgyz people have a wonderful tradition of preparing a sweet paste made of sprouted wheat, flour, vegetable oil called sumolok. Sumolok for nomad people is a great symbol of abundance, health, wealth, strength and prosperity. It can take days to cook sumolok, and women preparing it have a beautiful tradition to sing while cooking it together spreading good vibes.
During Nooruz people also participate in various activities such as dancing, singing traditional songs, playing games like wrestling and eating traditional foods like pilaf, boorsok and kebabs.
Nooruz is not just a celebration of spring, but also a celebration of cultural heritage and identity. It is a time when people can come together regardless of their religion or ethnicity to celebrate life, hope, and renewal.