12 Vernal Equinox Celebrations in a COVID-World
/“Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!””
With the arrival of March comes the Vernal Equinox, Saturday, March 20, 2021 and the promise of warmer, sunnier days to come. As the well-known proverb goes: If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb and this year is no exception. Alas, most of this years celebrations around the world are cancelled (or modified) because of COVID-19 but you can still celebrate Vernal Equinox festival traditions with crafts and activities while you adhere to current pandemic guidelines. Create fond memories with each other while welcoming in the Vernal Equinox.
USA: Visit a Local Farm
We are surrounded by farms in the Bay Area so Harvest Time is an exceptionally fun time. Farms are flourishing with an abundance of goodies. Enjoy the seasons bounty. Cheesavores delight with a trip along the Cheese Trail or discover a local farming gem along the Sonoma County Farm Trails.
Christianity: Easter
Easter is a celebration of hope and new life that we look forward to each spring! And of course, it's always a joy to watch a crowd of children eagerly hunting for Easter eggs. I think we all had hoped the pandemic would be over by now! Thankfully, Easter can't be cancelled or postponed. Easter comes whether we are ready or not. Easter is a reminder that death and despair do not have the last word! Even under our current restrictions, we can rejoice in the hope that Easter brings. Here are some ways you can celebrate Easter with your family while social distancing.
Pagan: Make a Miniature Greenhouse
Celebrate the Pagan rituals of Ostara by getting your seedlings started for your summer bounty. Here are clever ways to make a greenhouse, put it in a sunny spot, and watch your garden begin to flourish!
Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration of Spring
Judaism: Join ArtBash Live
Join the art-making festivities at The Contemporary Jewish Museum's ArtBash Live inspired by Passover! Drop by one of several Bay Area locations to pick up a FREE art kit filled with all the supplies you’ll need. Then, gather with us on Zoom to celebrate bookmaking and intergenerational storytelling through hands-on art projects. Passover centers on the dramatic and symbolic retelling of an ancient story, and we can’t wait to create new stories with you through inventive projects filled with journeys, characters, and lots of surprises!
Japan: Kayak
Higan (彼岸) is a Buddhist holiday that marks the changing of seasons and pays respect to deceased family members. The name “Higan” means crossing over to the “other shore”. Higan 2021 in Japan will begin on Wednesday, March 17 and ends on Tuesday, March 23. One side of the river is the world where we live, and the other side is the realm where the souls of those who have passed away dwell. Worshipers offer flowers, confections and prayers. Kayak to the other side from where you are and leave a gift or prayer to remember a loved one.
Visit Your Local Famers Markets
Grab your totes and spring out the door to your local farmers market! A bounty of spring produce awaits to create tasty dishes kids will devour.
India: Tie-Dye
Holi 2021 will begin on Sunday, March 28 and ends on Monday, March 29. Holi is a fun-loving festival, where people come in a group and play with colors. Traditionally, everyone wears white so the colors stand out. In lieu of the colored powder a different colorful way to celebrate Holi is to tie-dye! Get a white tee-shirt, rubber bands and color dye.
Keep a Nature Journal
Look around! Observe! What are the signs of spring in your region?
World Storytelling Day
Celebrate the art of oral storytelling with stories of your family, childhood, read classical tales, local stories, happy, challenging, spooky, dramatic epic stories. Every story is unique.
Mexico: Chichén Itzá
One of the most famous ancient Spring equinox celebrations is around the ancient Mayan pyramid Chichén Itzá in Mexico. The play of the Sun’s light on it signals the beginning of the seasons. On the spring equinox, it looks like a huge snake is slithering down the steps. Mayans called this day “the return of the Sun serpent.”
England: Watch a Sunrise and Set
Stonehenge in particular draws crowds interested to see the sunrise or sunset in a particular alignment of the stones. No matter where you are,
