Vernal Equinox In Mayan Territory

The rising of the Spring Sun 2012 Chichen Itza

Although today is April Fools day, 12 days ago, the Vernal Equinox came a little early this year on Mar. 20--it's taken a little time to find photos from celebrations that took place in various Maya sites.  Like other ancient monuments around the world from Egypt to England, most Maya ceremonial sites have temples that are aligned to show off the rising of the "returning sun."  In Chichen Itza, the sun shows off one side of the Temple of Kulkulkan with pure sunlight on one side of the structure leaving the other side in complete shadow, the resulting effect makes the side of the building look like an undulating serpent--which precisely the point, since Kulkulkan is the Maya name of the feathered serpent deity that is better known to the rest of the world by it's Nahautl name:  Quetzalcoatl.

Here's is that effect 2012

As the sun rises higher, the serpent effect shifts to the stairs of the temple.  See video below from 2007:

Other Maya structures that are some what older than the temple at Chichen Itza have a vernal equinox alignment with the sun that is similar to that of Stonehenge in the UK.  For example,  at Dzibilchaltún in Merida not far from Chichen Itza, the sacred structure there, known as the Temple of the Seven Dolls, captures the rising of the spring sun between it's pillars.

Here is one article from the Native American run newspaper Indian Country showing the spacial relation of the exact vernal equinox in 2012.  Here in another informative article from Indian Country, there are videos that range from Dzibilchaltún to Chaco Canyon.

Of course, with the Spring Equinox (which last came this early 100 years ago) being big business in the so-called "Maya Rivera"--the Mexican government, much like the Egyptians from time to time, just cannot resist the temptation to "tart up" the event with lights on the pyramid.  It's 263 days to Baktun 13, Friday, Dec. 21.