German word of the day: Tagundnachtgleiche

Why do I need to know ‘Tagundnachtgleiche’?

You might've heard this word yesterday or could hear it around soon, and then you probably wouldn't hear it again for at least six months.

More of a novel term than one for everyday use, Die Tagundnachtgleiche is one you can use to impress German speakers with your knowledge of heavens and the earth, and your expansive vocabulary.

What does it mean?

Tagundnachtgleiche is the German word for equinox, which is the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making the day and night equal in length and also marking a change of seasons.

Alternatively the word Äquinoktium, coming from the Latin term, can also be used for equinox.

Each year contains two equinoxes: a spring equinox (Frühlings-Tagundnachtgleiche or Frühjahrs-Tagundnachtgleiche) and a fall equinox (Herbst-Tagundnachtgleiche).

The spring equinox, which fell on Marth 20th this year, marks the beginning of spring. From this day forward, daylight hours in Germany will continue getting longer until the summer solstice.

READ ALSO: Seven signs that spring has arrived in Germany

The English word equinox comes from the Latin root and literally translates as “equal night”, meaning that the night is equal to the day (or more specifically that the hours of darkness are equal to the hours of daylight.)

In this case, the German term leaves nothing to be deduced. The word is a short phrase put together – Tag und Nacht Gleiche – meaning “day and night equality”.

Equinox traditions

The Vernal Equinox and the beginning of the spring season is cause for celebration in cultures around the world, and is often linked with traditions related to birth and fertility.

In Germany the beginning of spring is aligned with a number of folk festivals, and the Easter holiday. In pre-Christian times, Germanic peoples are thought to have worshipped a goddess named Ostara at this time and celebrated with feasts and dancing.

READ ALSO: Easter in Germany - The very Deutsch origins of the Easter Bunny

Use it like this:

In diesem Jahr fällt die Frühlingstagundnachtgleiche auf den 20 März.

This year the spring equinox occurs on March 20th.

Glückliche Tagundnachtgleiche!

Happy equinox!