First Day of Spring and International Day of Happiness Celebrations Take Place Today

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, March 20, 2014

The First Day of Spring finally arrived after a very cold winter on Thursday, and people everywhere are celebrating the promise of warmth to come.

Appropriately, March 20 is also the International Day of Happiness, giving revelers around the world yet another reason to be joyous today. The concurrent holidays surely did not happen coincidentally, as the coming of spring appears to be spreading happiness on social media on Thursday.

The Spring Vernal Equinox officially begins at 12:57 p.m. EDT on March 20- the same time that the sun will have crossed directly over the Earth's equator. The event will cause day and night to be about equal today, and marks the very first day of the 2014 spring season.

Although colder temperatures are still ahead, the season of spring is also associated with ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth- marking the perfect time to celebrate International Happiness Day. On Twitter, both InternationalDayofHappiness and #HappyFirstDayofSpring became trending topics with users sounding off on their celebrations of each, or in most cases, honoring both holidays simultaneously.

"It may not look like it where you are, but it is the first day of Spring," Indigo Chapters wrote. "Here's to new seasons, new beginnings and new favorite books."

Marquette University also posted to Twitter with a photo of colorful tulips and the caption, "We're looking forward to seeing this again soon. Happy first day of spring!"

Also among the merrymakers is model Miranda Kerr who shared a floral photo on Instagram and "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts who shared a message on Twitter.

"First day of Spring and today is the International Day of Happiness. #DoingTheHappyDance," Roberts wrote.

Easter arrives shortly after the official mark of springtime, giving people even more to celebrate. Furthering the springtime ideas of resurrection and renewal, Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. The event celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the "third day," two days after his crucifixion, which is called Good Friday. This year, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20.