The Equinox at Chichén Itzá
If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in Mexico on March 21st, you need to take the opportunity to witness one of the most incredible spectacles of a lifetime: the Equinox at Chichén Itzá! During the equinox, you can bear witness to a magical optical illusion of a snake descending the pyramid of Kukulcán. Want to know more about this phenomenon? Read on to find out.
What is an equinox and how does it work?
An equinox is a scientific phenomenon whereby the day and night are of equal length. The equinox is attributed to the motion of the earth around the sun. As the earth revolves around the sun, it does so while it rotates on its axis, which has a tilt of 23.5 degrees. The tilt of the earth’s axis is responsible for why we experience seasons. For example, North Americans experience winter when the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. The equinox happens when the earth's rotational axis is perpendicular to the sun and isn’t tilted. This means that, on this day, every point on the earth experiences a day where its length is equal to that of the night.
Renewal, rebirth and balance
The equinox marks the transition from winter to spring on March 21st and summer to fall on September 21st. These seasons hold the symbol of birth and death respectively. Another interesting interpretation of the equinox is that the perfect alignment of the sun and the earth represents balance. As a result of that alignment, some believe that on this day everything is in equilibrium and therefore it is the day that we have the greatest potential to transcend ourselves, be free of prejudice and act in commitment to fairness.
The Ancient City of Chichén Itzá
Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichén Itzá was one of the largest of the ancient Mesoamerican cities built by the Maya people. The name Chichén Itzá can be translated to mean “at the mouth of the well of the Itzá”. Itzá was the name of the Maya group that founded the city. Historians speculate that at its zenith, Chichén Itzá was a bustling area both culturally and linguistically diverse and home to 35,000 people. Chichén Itzá is also the location of many famous Maya pyramids, along with the world's most ancient ball court. Ball games were ritual events depicting solar movement: players would either kick or use their hips to try and pass a ball made of stone through meters-high hoops to score points. There are different theories about who would be sacrificed. Some say the losers would be sacrificed for the gods where the ball represented the sun and the sacrifice of the player representing the death of the sun. Other theories believe the winning team or just its captain would be sacrificed as gifts to the gods for their strength.
The temple and pyramid of KukulcánI
In the northern part of the ancient city of Chichén Itzá lies the Kukulcán pyramid, home to the snake spectacle during the spring and fall equinoxes.
Widely known as El Castillo, the pyramid supports a two-story temple standing 79 feet tall with a total of 365 steps, reflecting the Maya’s deep astronomical knowledge. It was built in honor of the feathered snake god, Kukulcán. Kukulcán, meaning “feathered serpent”, is one of the most revered gods of the Yucatec Maya religion. Kukulcán is considered the god of creation, god of rain, wind, storms and life. In the Maya religion and Mesoamerican symbology, snakes are considered a bridge between the spiritual world and man. Their mouths, like caves, are seen as a portal between the normal realm and the underworld.
During the equinox, crowds gather to witness the shadows that appear on the northern staircase of the pyramid of Kukulcán. As can be seen in the image above, the triangular shadows depict the form of a snake, slowly slithering its way down to the base of the pyramid, where the serpent's head is located. It is said that, in this moment twice a year, Kukulcán comes alive, returning to the earth to provide blessings.
Visiting Chichén Itzá in 2021
Normally, Chichén Itzá attracts around 2 million visitors a year but the COVID-19 pandemic has put the world at a standstill with regards to travel. If you happen to be Mexico, now may be a great time to visit these archeological grounds without the big crowds. You can visit the site by way of the city of Mérida which is around 100km away or via Cancun, which is 200km away from Na’atik. Day trips are available from both cities and tickets can also be purchased online in advance. Doors open at 8am but crowds are said to form much earlier than that.
At Na’atik, we also organize day trips to Chichén Itzá for our immersion students and groups, so if planning is not your strength, you can leave it to us to deliver a great experience.
For more Maya facts, check out our other blogs on the intricacies of hammock weaving and the hummingbird, Ts'unu'um, which you may also find interesting.
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The best way to experience the Mexican lifestyle is in person, with a Na’atik Immersion experience. Not only do you live with a local Mexican-Maya family, sharing home-cooked meals and free time, but also receive expert instruction in your chosen language at our school. Best of all, every immersion experience helps fund our subsidized and free local education program, helping local students to access opportunities and make their own futures.