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Live countdown to First Day of Spring 2027 on March 20, 2027. Displays days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining. Fullscreen mode for TVs and projectors.
The first day of spring 2027—also known as the vernal equinox—falls on March 20. On this date, the sun crosses the celestial equator heading northward, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness around the globe. It officially marks the beginning of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
The vernal equinox has been celebrated for millennia. Ancient civilizations built structures aligned with the equinox sun, including the step pyramid at Chichén Itzá in Mexico, where a shadow serpent appears to slither down the staircase each spring. In Iran, the equinox marks Nowruz, the Persian New Year, celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide with feasts, family gatherings, and symbolic rituals of renewal.
In the natural world, spring triggers dramatic changes. Migrating birds return northward, flowers like crocuses and daffodils push through thawing soil, and trees begin to bud. Allergy sufferers brace for rising pollen counts, while gardeners eagerly start planting cool-season crops like peas, lettuce, and spinach.
Spring is also associated with renewal in everyday life—spring cleaning, home improvement projects, and a collective boost in mood as sunlight hours increase. Research shows that exposure to longer daylight periods elevates serotonin levels, contributing to improved energy and well-being after the long winter months.
What exactly is the vernal equinox? The vernal equinox is the moment when the sun's center crosses the Earth's equatorial plane moving northward. "Equinox" comes from the Latin words for "equal night," reflecting the roughly equal day and night lengths experienced worldwide on that date.
Is the first day of spring the same everywhere? Astronomical spring begins on the equinox for the entire Northern Hemisphere, but meteorological spring—used by climatologists—starts on March 1. In the Southern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the beginning of autumn.
Can you really balance an egg on the equinox? This is a popular myth. You can balance an egg on its end on any day of the year with enough patience—the equinox has no special gravitational effect that makes it easier.