March Equinox in Belarus ― Date, History, and Details
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History of March Equinox in Belarus and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
March equinox in Belarus occurs when the sun is directly over the equator and day and night are of equal length. This happens only once a year, around the 21st of March. In Belarus, the days leading up to the equinox are called Maslenitsa (Масленіца), or “Butter Week”. This week is a time of feasting and merrymaking before the start of Lent. On the last day of Maslenitsa, known as Forgiveness Sunday, people ask forgiveness from their friends and family.
During the equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator, making day and night of equal length all over the world. In Belarus, this happens around noon. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin for “equal night”.
Equinoxes are special times for many cultures and religions. For example, the Buddhist holiday of Wesak, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha, falls on the full moon of the month in which the March equinox occurs. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal (spring) equinox is also known as the “Buddha’s Birthday”.
In ancient times, people believed that the world was created at the March equinox. This is why many cultures have celebrations and festivals at this time of year.
In Belarus, the March equinox is a time of rebirth and new beginnings. It is a time to celebrate the coming of spring and the return of the sun.