Yes, one can stand an egg on its end during vernal equinox

In just a few weeks, Daylight Saving Time will officially begin on Sunday, March 12 when we set our clocks one hour ahead to give us an extra hour of sunlight at the end of each day. Less than a week later, the vernal equinox occurs on March 20 signaling that each day has more hours of daylight than it does darkness and officially begins astronomical spring.

Astronomical spring is based on the position of the Earth on its axis while meteorological spring – which begins March 1 – is based on annual temperature cycles and will continue until May 31.

Many of us have been taught that the vernal equinox in spring and the autumnal equinox in the fall produce exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, but this isn’t correct. According to Famers’ Almanac, daytime officially begins at the moment the sun begins to appear over the horizon casting the first light of day and continues until the sun completely disappears below the horizon each evening. As a result, we normally see slightly more than 12 hours daylight on equinox days.

Another commonly held notion about equinoxes is that one can stand a raw egg on its end on either of these days, but again according to Famers’ Almanac, that notion is also not accurate. The truth is that it is possible to stand an egg on its end on any day of the year.

The concept of standing an egg on its end only on certain days is merely folklore that was based on the incorrect assumption that gravitational shifts on equinox days make it easier for the egg to remain in an upright position.

However, standing an egg on its end is not influenced in any way by invisible gravitational pulls related to the equinox. According to Accuweather.com, the simple explanation of an egg standing upright is the result of concentration, patience, and a solid surface on which to stand the egg.

I recall having the act of egg balancing taught to my fifth-grade class long ago in the mid ’60s. What I don’t recall is whether we were told that it could only happen on days with equal amounts of daylight and darkness.

Putting these myths aside, we can be assured by one of the earliest indicators of spring’s arrival – daffodils beginning to shoot up and bloom – that we will soon have weeks of varying shades of green as the trees grow their leaves back and spring flowers bring color and life back to our winter-weary gardens.

Whether we stand an egg on its end, or prefer astronomical spring over meteorological spring, the season of rebirth will soon be upon us.