Say hello to spring

This year, the first day of spring — also known as the vernal equinox — falls on March 20. Here's what you need to know about the occasion.

What's the spring equinox?

The vernal quinox marks one of the two times a year when day and night are nearly the same length. The term equinox comes from the Latin word equinoxium, which means "equality between day and night."This phenomenon occurs when the center of the sun is directly above Earth's equator. The spring equinox signals that the Northern Hemisphere of the planet has begun slowly tilting toward the sun, leading to longer days and more sunlight, according to NASA.

When is it, exactly?

The precise time of the astronomical start of spring is Wednesday at 5:58 p.m. ET. If you're in a different time zone, you can check what time it starts on the US Naval Observatory's website.

Is anything special happening?

The night sky will shine a little brighter than usual. There will be a full moon on Wednesday at 9:43 p.m. ET, just a few hours after the official start of spring. It's the first time since 1981 that the spring equinox and a full moon coincide on the same day. This full moon is also extra special because it will be a supermoon. That means the moon will appear larger than normal because of its close proximity to Earth.

Is the spring equinox always on the same day?

No, but it doesn't vary by much. The spring equinox always occurs in the Northern Hemisphere on March 19, 20 or 21. The date of the equinox changes from year to year to account for the fact that the Earth doesn't take exactly 365 days to make a complete revolution around the sun. The Gregorian calendar adds a leap day every four years to account for this, and the spring equinox date varies for the same reason.

How do people celebrate it?

People across the globe mark the occasion in various ways. The vernal equinox also is the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz (and other spellings). For more than 300 million people worldwide it's the start of a monthlong celebration of new beginnings. In Chichen Itza, Mexico, thousands gather at the Kulkulkan pyramid. In the late afternoon, the sun creates a shadow that looks like a snake sliding down the northern staircase.And in Stonehenge, England, pagans, druids and tourists watch the picturesque sunrise at the prehistoric monument.Holi, a major festival in India that marks the start of spring, also begins on March 20 this year. During Holi, people come together for song, dance and to splash their loved ones with colored powder and water.