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Vernal Equinox

Seasons
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The spring equinox, when day and night are nearly equal. It often symbolizes balance, renewal, and the turning of the year.

Detailed Definition
Vernal equinox names the astronomical moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator northward, bringing nearly equal daylight and darkness. In poetry, it can mark a poised threshold between winter's restraint and spring's expansion. Images of opening soil, returning birds, and lengthening light allow the term to carry themes of rebirth, reconciliation, and fragile equilibrium. It may also suggest that renewal arrives through a measured, gradual shift rather than a sudden transformation.
Example
Example in poetry:
"At the vernal equinox, the day and night held equal hands" uses balance as a spring image; A poet can mark the vernal equinox with returning birds and lengthening light; In mythology-inflected verse, the vernal equinox may signal Persephone's return; "The vernal equinox tipped the dark bowl of winter into bloom" makes the season a turning point
Additional Notes
In poetry, the vernal equinox can mark a hinge between winter and spring. Pair images of equal light and dark with themes of renewal, balance, or uncertain beginnings.
Also Known As
Spring Equinox March Equinox Spring Vernal
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