Tips and Quips

March 20, 2014 Enter the Equinox

A most jubilant Vernal Equinox to one and all!  And if we were in Japan we would be having a national holiday – called Shunbun No Hi!   The Japanese celebrate both equinoxes, spring and fall, as national holidays.  Why not?  They are special days.  During an equinox, The Earth’s North and South poles are not tilted toward or away from the Sun, and the length of day is theoretically the same at all points on Earth.  Also, theoretically, during an equinox the length of day is somewhat equal to the length of night.  In the Northern Hemisphere the Vernal Equinox leads the way to longer days until the Autumnal Equinox in September which heralds the start of shorter days.  During Vernal Equinox Day many Japanese will pay homage to family and ancestors as well as renew their lives by cleaning their homes or instituting life changes, such as taking a class or starting a new hobby…the oriental version of our American “Spring Cleaning”.  Damnit, I should have phoned work this morning with an awful case of cluttered closets and taken the day off!