Shunbun no Hi – 春分の日 (Spring Equinox Day) is a Japanese national holiday celebrated on March 20 or 21. The equinox is a phenomenon that occurs twice a year, once at the beginning of spring (Spring Equinox Day) and once at the beginning of autumn (Autumn Equinox Day). On this day, the sun makes its east-west path right over the equator, making the day as long as the night.
This national holiday was created in 1948 to mark the beginning of a new season and the end of winter. It is also a day to praise nature, the blooming of flowers and the appreciation of animals. It also serves as a warning that Hanami, the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival, is approaching.
The holiday does not always occur on the same date. It varies between the 20th or 21st, depending on whether the year is a leap year. The spring equinox actually consists of three days before and after, forming a seven-day period called Higan, which means “other side” and also signifies the transition from one season to another.
The days become longer after the holiday, at this time, a multitude of cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom throughout practically the entire Japanese archipelago, attracting a large number of people, including thousands of foreign tourists, who visit the archipelago especially to enjoy the flowering that happens only once a year.
National Holiday: March 20, Shunbun no Hi (Spring Equinox Day).