Spring equinox in Teotihuacán facts for kids
The Spring Equinox in Teotihuacán is a special yearly event. It happens around March 20th or 21st at the ancient site of Teotihuacán in Mexico. Many people visit Teotihuacán for this event. Similar events also take place at other old sites like Chichén Itzá.
What People Do
Thousands of people come to Teotihuacán for the equinox. Many wear white clothes and a red scarf. They dance, burn special incense, and chant. The main activity is standing on top of the Pyramid of the Sun. People stretch out their arms towards the sun as it rises in the morning. Most people climb the pyramid between 9 AM and 1 PM. If you arrive early, you can see the sun come up over the Apan Mountains. Its red light colors the land and the people.
Some visitors believe they are following their ancestors. They ask ancient gods for energy and good health on this day. Some modern groups think that during the equinox, a special energy opens up. They believe climbing the 360 steps of the Pyramid of the Sun helps them get closer to this "energy."
Why It's So Popular
In 2010, over a million people visited Teotihuacán during the equinox weekend. Even if the equinox was on Saturday, many felt the energy was still there on Sunday. Because so many people come, rules are put in place. The site is open from 6 AM to 5 PM. Visitors enter through specific gates and leave through another. Selling things is not allowed inside.
Special safety structures are put on the pyramid. This helps people move up and down safely. Only the first level of the Pyramid of the Moon can be visited. Other areas like the Palace of Quetzalcoatl are closed. Visitors can only walk on the main path called the Avenue of the Dead. Police watch the crowds from small mounds along this path. Ceremonies are only allowed in the open areas near the pyramids. The usual parking lots are closed, so people park in nearby towns.
If someone needs help, like from the heat, the Mexican Red Cross is there. State police and local officers also help keep everyone safe.
How Ancient People Studied the Sky
Some buildings at Teotihuacán show how ancient people studied the sky. This study is called Archaeoastronomy. Experts have been researching this at the site since the 1990s.
The Palace of the Butterflies has shiny circles on its walls. These circles are made with a mineral called mica. People think these circles might show stars or planets. It is also likely that the Palace of Quetzalcoatl was used to watch the sun. On the spring equinox, a shadow moves up a special wall. This happens between 7:15 AM and 7:45 AM as the sun rises. The wall has carvings of owls and light rays. Owls are linked to darkness, and rays to light. This shows a balance between light and dark. Birds can also mean stars. This special wall design is called an unxicalcoliuhqui. You can also see this design at Chichén Itzá. Like the Butterfly Palace, this building also has mica circles on its walls.
The first sun rays on equinox day are blocked by a hill called Cerro Colorado Grande. Some believe the ancient people of Teotihuacán used this hill to mark the equinox. However, this would mean the Pyramid of the Sun needed to be in a different spot. Or, the Pyramid of the Moon might have been more important for equinox events.
See also
In Spanish: Equinoccio de primavera en Teotihuacán para niños
- Angkor Wat Equinox
- Orientation of churches
