Today Is March 20

Today, March 20, 2026, marks the Vernal Equinox, the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. While the name implies equal day and night, most locations actually reached that 12-hour balance a few days ago during the equilux. From today onward, the days will continue to be longer than the nights until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22nd.

We have used the word 'spring' for the season since the 16th century. Before that it was used for centuries to apply to the source of a river.

Before we called it spring the season was known as Lent or Lenten.

Persephone was the Greek goddess of spring. She spent winters as Queen of the Underworld but returned in spring to preside over rebirth.

The earliest known use of the term 'spring-cleaning' was in 1857.