The 20th of March is the 79 th day of the year, in the Gregorian calendar and the Vernal Equinox, or equal night.

Because of the 23.4 degree tilt of the earth's axis on this day, the sun crosses directly over the earth's equator, resulting in equal amounts of night and day hours.

In the Northern Hemisphere it hails the last day of Winter and in the Southern Hemisphere it hails the last day of Summer.

This phenonema results in the temperature of the earth to rise in the Northern Hemisphere and to drop in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The zodiac sign of Pisces.

GENERAL INFOMATION REGARDING THIS DAY.

This day is the last day of the zodiac sign of Pisces, and as Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, this day is also the last day of the zodiac's yearly cycle.

This day defines when the Christian festival of Easter occurs, as it is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon ( The Paschal full moon ) following the Vernal Equinox.

The great Sphinx in Egypt was built so that it points directly towards the rising sun on this day.

This day is regarded as the day of new beginnings, birth and fertility, and was considered the most important day of the year in pagan times.

The first day in the world to herald the 20th of March is Tonga, in the Pacific Ocean.

The last day in the world to herald the 20th of March is Attu Island, in the Aleutian Islands, of Alaska.

Becouse of the international date line and international time zones, Tonga's time of 00.01 March 20th, occurs at 11.01 a.m GMT the 19th of March, and Attu Island's midnight on March 20th occurs at 11.00 a.m GMT on March the 21st.

                                                        SIGNIFICANT HOLIDAYS ON THIS DAY.

In some countries of the world, owing to the Vernal Equinox, this day heralds the New Year.

This celebration is known as Norouz and is celebrated in Afghanistan. 

                                                                                   Azerbaijan. 

                                                                                    Iran. 

                                                                                    Kyrgystan. 

                                                                                    Tajikstan. 

                                                                                    Turkmenistan. 

                                                                                     Uzbekistan.

The Japanese Spring public holiday of Furikae Kyujitsu is celebrated on this day.

The Egyptian Spring public holiday of Sham El - Nessim is celebrated on this day..

The Wiccan and neo - pagan holiday of Ostara is celebrated on this day.

On this day is International Francophone Day, celebrated by the world's 56 French speaking countries and states.

On this day is World Storytelling Day.

On this day is International Astrology Day.

This day is Independence Day in Tunisia.

This day is celebrated as St Cuthberts Day, by school children in New Zealand.

This day in 2010, is International Obscura day. 

                                                                  SAINTS DAYS ON THIS DAY.

The feast of Saint Cuthbert is held on this day. Saint Cuthbert ( 634 - 687 ) was an Anglo Saxon monk from the holy island of Lindisfarne, and upon his death, on this day, he became the patron Saint of Northumberland in England.

He has numerous churches, colleges and societies named in his honour, worldwide.

The feast of St Wulfrum is celebrated on this day. Wulfrum ( 640 - 703 ) was the Arch Bishop of Sens in France, and upon his death, his birth date on this day, he became the Patron Saint of protector of all who sail the seas.

He has three churches dedicated to him in, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England.

                                                                                  Ovingdean, Sussex, England.

                                                                                  Abbeville, Somme , France.

                                                       MYTHS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DAY.

It is claimed that upon this day, due to the fine balance of the earth's axis, one can balance an egg on its end.

                                                  FAMOUS BOOKS PUBLISHED ON THIS DAY.

On this day in 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, Uncle Tom's Cabin was published.

On this day in 1916 Albert Einstein's book the General Theory of Relativity was published.

                                                            PATENTS ISSUED ON THIS DAY.

On this day in 1883, Dutch Guinean, Jan Matzeliger was awarded patent number # 274 - 207, for the invention of his ' Shoe Lasting ' machine.

This invention was to revolutionise the manufacture of shoes, thus permitting the mass production of affordable shoes for everyone.  

  The flag of Tunisia, who gained independence from France on this day in 1956.

                                                                SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ON THIS DAY.

On this day in 1515 Sir Walter Raleigh was released from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment.

On this day in 1760, saw the great fire of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

On this day in 1792, the guillotine was first demonstrated in Paris, France, instigating the country's preferred mode of execution.

On this day in 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte started his 100 day rule.

On this day in 1913 an assassination attempt on Chinese National Party founder, Sung Chiao- Jen, resulted in his death two days later.

On this day in 1956 Tunisia gained independence from France.

On this day in 1966 the fifa-world-cup was stolen whilst on exhibition in London.

On this day in 1980, the pirate radio station Radio Caroline's ship, Mi Amigo, ran aground and sank in the English waters of the North Sea. All four men and one canary aboard, were rescued from the sinking craft.

On this day in 1993 an IRA bomb killed two children in the town of Warrington, Cheshire, England, an event which inspired the song Zombie by The Cranberries.

On this day in 1995 a sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult, on the Tokyo metro, killed 12 people and injured 1,300 others.

On this day in 2003, saw the invasion of Iraq by British and American troops,which resulted in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.and the resultant conflict.

On this day in 2006 Cyclone Larry made landfall in Eastern Australia completely decimateing that years entire banana crop.

EARTHQUAKES ON THIS DAY.

On this day in 1861 a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the town of Mendoza in Argentina resulting in the deaths of 6,000 people.

On this day in 2005 a magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit the Japanese city of Fukuoka, killing one person. 

      Roman poet Ovid, who was born on this day in 43 BC. 

                                                                      SIGNIFICANT BIRTHS ON THIS DAY.

43 BC - Ovid.Roman poet, famous for his work, The Art of Love.

1725. - Abdul Hamid I, 27th Ottoman Sultan.

1735. - Torbern Bergman, Swedish chemist, who implemented the ABC notation system for chemicals.

1811. - Napoleon II of France, only son and heir apparant of Napoleon Bonaparte.

1828. - Henrik Ibsen,Norwegian composer.

1836. - Sir Edward Poynter, British artist.

1882. - Reny Coty, French President. 1954 - 1959.

1908. - British actor Michael Redgrave

1917. - British armed forces ' sweetheart ' and singer, Vera Lynn.

1939. - Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. 1984 - 1993.

1950. - British drummer Carl Palmer. ( Emerson, Lake and Palmer )

1950. - American actor William Hurt.

1952. - Australian racing car driver, Geoff Brabam.

1957. - American movie director Spike Lee.

1958. - American actress, Holly Hunter. 

1961 - Irish businessman and founder of budget airline Ryan Air, Michael O'Leary.

SIGNIFICANT DEATHS ON THIS DAY.

1413 .- King Henry IV of England.

1931. - Hermann Muller, German Chancellor, 1920 and 1928 - 1930.

1934. - Queen Emma of the Netherlands.

1991. - Conor Clapton, son of musician Eric Clapton, whose death inspired the song Tears in Heaven.

 2004. - Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. 

King Henry IV of England, who died on this day in 1413. 

                                                              SIGNIFICANT MARRIAGES ON THIS DAY.

1969. - British musician John Lennon married Japanese American artist Yoko Ono at the British Consulate in Gibraltar.

--There are of course numerous other events, births and deaths remembered on this day, but I chose only the most world reknowned events / people, for my article, otherwise it would take me until next March the 20th to compile the lists !

I therefore apologise to any fans of film, TV or sport if your hero has been omitted.--

INFLUENCIAL PROPERTIES OF THIS DAY.

Animal. - Fish.

Bird. - Parrot.

Birthstone / gemstone. - Sapphire.

Colour. - Aquamarine. ( Turquoise green ).

Day. - Thursday.

Element. - Water.

Planet. - Neptune.

Plant. - Fern. 

John Lennon and Yoko Ono who were married on this day in 1969. 

                                                                        Pictures courtesy of wikimedia commons.

                                                                                  © DeeBee March.2010.