This year, the first day of spring – also known as the vernal equinox – falls on March 20. Here’s what you need to know about the occasion.

The first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere varies from year to year, since the day it begins is determined by the spring equinox. The spring equinox falls on March 19, 20 or 21 each year.

The first day of spring in 2020 is March 19, the earliest in 124 years, according to AccuWeather. What is the vernal equinox? Equinox is Latin for "equal nights," according to AccuWeather.