Spring Equinox 2006

For the Northern Hermisphere this year, spring will be here on March 20th! That is this year's spring or vernal equinox for the Northern Hemisphere this year. That will also start the half-month called Chunfen(春分, Spring Equinox) and the following solar term is Qingming(清明, Pure Brightness).

Students - Did anyone recognize the "chun" (spring) character? and "ming" or bright? Can you see the sun and moon characters that combine to make the character "ming"?

Would you have guessed we are in the third solar term now, "The Waking of Insects"? You may want to read more about Solar Terms.