Every year, the sun is positioned directly over the equator, giving 12 hours each of day and night all over the world. These two days fall in the spring and winter and are known as equinoxes. The spring equinox is celebrated word-wide in the form of different festivals depending on the culture and geography of different regions. Mexico is one of the countries which celebrates spring equinox in its own special way. If you’re planning to visit Mexico during the spring equinox, you must check out these three attractions.
Chichen Itza
Situated between Cancún and Mérida, the Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza becomes one of the most visited attractions in Mexico during the spring equinox. The Kulkulkan temple is one of the most brilliant works of architecture at the site. During equinoxes, the sun’s rays delude one into thinking that a snake is slithering down the stairs of the giant pyramid. The pyramid is also known to have wonderful acoustical properties. You will also find El Caracol (“The Snail”) which is an astronomical observatory at the site and has been situated so precisely, that it was used to determine the accurate dates for the equinoxes.
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan, also billed as “the city of the gods” is perhaps the most popular archaeological site in Mexico. It is also an excellent place to experience the marvellous properties of the spring equinox. Situated near Mexico City, Teotihuacan holds an important place in the archaeological history of Mexico. It was once a populated city with around 200,000 residents. The interesting site houses a number of marker stones set up by the first inhabitants to determine the position of the rising sun, to mark the spring equinox as seen from the Pyramid of the Sun. Many people visit the site at spring equinox and quite a few dress in white and climb atop the pyramid to soak in the supposedly special solar energy of the equinox.
Great Temple, Mexico City
Templo Mayor or the Great Temple in Mexico City is situated at the place, where it is believed that Tenoch, the legendary Mexican priest saw the sign of an eagle perched on a cactus. Later, after the Aztecs were defeated by Spanish conquistadors, the city was renamed as Mexico City and it went on to become the largest city of the western hemisphere. On the Spring Equinox, the sun shines exactly between the two temples at the site. This beautiful sight was earlier reserved only for priests but is now open to all.
