Hungarian superstitions on the day of vernal (spring) equinox

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The vernal equinox is the start of the astrological spring when the weather and the season “officially” turn into spring, leaving the cold and grey winter behind. This day has many superstitions related to rebirth ever since ancient times.

The March equinox or Northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth.

The March equinox may be taken to mark the beginning of spring and the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, but it marks the beginning of autumn and the end of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Veol reported that on this day, the light defeats the dark and the rebirth of the whole world comes to reality. On March 20 and 21, the length of mornings and nights are equal. The religious tradition says that this day, the church and the people welcome the season of Easter and its significant days.

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Old superstitions say that this day is the start of the spring season, and if someone tries to hit the grass back into the earth with a hammer, it will eventually grow out again.

On these two days, farmers usually planted paprika and other seeds and considered the rain and cold weather to be bad luck. Farmers also let bees out from the hives to clean it out. Some plants, especially onions, had the most significant feature on this day.

Onions planted on these two days had special healing powers after harvesting, and people usually gave them hidden in slices of bread to ill animals like cows and cattle. Also, fruits like apples and pears harvested or engrafted on these two days had special power as well.