How to Celebrate the Spring Equinox Around the World

Where Ancient Stones Whisper Equinox Secrets

Mexico: Chichén Itzá’s Serpent Descends

We stand among hushed crowds as sunlight creates the illusion of a serpent undulating down the pyramid of El Castillo in Chichén Itzá. This architectural marvel, precisely aligned with the equinox, showcases the Maya civilization’s mastery of astronomy, mathematics, and sacred geometry.

For the Maya, celestial cycles dictated everything—from agriculture to governance, from rituals to mythology. The descent of Kukulcán, the feathered serpent deity, was more than an optical illusion; it was a divine message, signaling the shift in seasons and the renewal of life.

Beyond Chichén Itzá, our journey through Mexico City and Oaxaca reveals how deeply celestial knowledge was woven into everyday life. We visit ancient observatories where Maya priests mapped the heavens with astonishing precision, step into sacred cenotes where offerings were made to appease the gods, and taste traditional seasonal dishes once prepared for equinox ceremonies.

Japan: Higan and the Balance of Worlds

As cherry blossoms begin their ephemeral dance across Japan, we step into the stillness of a Zen garden, where raked stones mirror the waves of the universe. Here, Higan, the Buddhist observance that coincides with both spring and autumn equinoxes, reminds us of life’s impermanence and perfect balance.

The word Higan means “the other shore”—symbolizing the passage from one state to another, from darkness to light, from winter’s dormancy to the bloom of new life. Traditionally, this is a time when Japanese families visit the graves of ancestors, offering flowers, incense, and bowls of sweet rice dumplings to honor those who came before.

When traveling to Japan, we follow this practice, walking through temples where monks chant sutras, witnessing how the equinox is still a living tradition in Japan’s spiritual and culinary landscape. From the season’s first delicate pickles to the ceremonial brewing of matcha in Kyoto’s tea houses, spring’s arrival is celebrated with reverence, balance, and grace.

Rituals of Rebirth and Renewal

India: Holi’s Eruption of Color

Perhaps no festival captures the joy of rebirth quite like Holi. In India, as winter fades into memory, streets transform into a kaleidoscope of color, where strangers become friends under clouds of turmeric yellow, hibiscus red, and indigo blue. Holi’s origins stretch back to Hindu mythology, tied to the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring’s abundance. The bonfires of Holika Dahan—lit on the eve of Holi—symbolize purification, a burning away of the old to make way for renewal.

During Holi, we step into this vibrant tradition, joining local families in Delhi and Rajasthan as they prepare natural pigments from marigold petals, beetroot, and saffron. We share in the joy of spring’s arrival, feasting on gujiya pastries and sipping chilled thandai, infused with almonds, cardamom, and rose. The rest of the year, we are immersed in similar cultural traditions while we travel to India.

Sweden: Awakening from Winter’s Dream

Few places welcome spring’s return with as much reverence as the Nordic world. After months of darkness, the first signs of thaw feel almost sacred—green shoots push through frozen ground, rivers break free from ice, and the sun lingers a little longer each day. In Sweden, the equinox was once the time for blessing seeds before planting, a ritual tied to the ancient Norse belief in the life force that awakens the land. Fires were lit to ward off lingering winter spirits, marking the earth’s shift toward light and warmth.

As we travel to Sweden, we join in contemporary celebrations that maintain these ancient traditions—foraging for the first wild herbs, gathering around tables where young greens are woven into vibrant dishes, and watching the northern lights flicker in skies now balancing darkness and light. The air carries a quiet electricity, the promise of a season renewed.

The Balance Within and Without

Italy: Culinary Equilibrium

In Tuscany and Sicily, the equinox is reflected in the kitchen, where dishes embody the delicate balance between winter’s lingering stores and spring’s first offerings. At farmsteads and village kitchens, tables are set with bowls of hearty soups made from winter legumes, now brightened with tender spring greens—a culinary representation of seasonal transition.

Travel with us to Italy alongside our culinary tastemakers, as we walk the fields in search of wild asparagus, gather young fennel and mint, and craft simple, elegant meals that honor this moment of balance between scarcity and abundance.

Portugal: The Rhythms of Land and Sea

Along Portugal’s rugged Atlantic coast, where fishermen and farmers have long followed nature’s rhythms, the equinox marks a turning point. The sea begins to offer its spring gifts—mackerel, octopus, and cod returning to the shallows—while inland, fields awaken with wheat, olives, and citrus.

For centuries, equinox celebrations have honored both land and sea—from the blessing of fishing boats, ensuring safe journeys, to the baking of folar, a sweet bread with eggs nestled inside, symbolizing renewal and new life. While traveling to Portugal, we share in these rituals—joining families in preparing traditional equinox feasts, walking the coastline where ancient navigators once watched the changing tides, and experiencing how this balance between elements has shaped Portuguese culture for generations.