Spring is almost here — officially, at least.

The vernal equinox arrives on Thursday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere and the fall in the Southern Hemisphere. On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time.

The events have been marked and celebrated around the world for centuries. Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, is based on the

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