International Astrology Day (most often observed on either March 20 or March 21) was first asserted by the Association for Astrological Networking in 1993 and is an annual observance/holiday celebrated by

astrologers Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...

and

astrology Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...

enthusiasts. It is seen by astrologers as the beginning (first day) of the astrological year. It is the first full day of the

astrological sign In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth's 360-degree orbit around the Sun. The signs enumerate from the first day of spring, known as the First Point of Aries, which is the vernal equinox. ...

of Aries and thus marks the beginning of the

tropical Zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The path ...

. International Astrology Day is celebrated/observed depending on the exact day that the

Northward equinox The March equinox or northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. The March equinox is known as the vern ...

actually occurs. This varies year to year between March 19–22, though it usually falls on March 20 or March 21. The date of the holiday occurs at the same time of the Iranian new year (''

Norouz Nowruz ( fa, نوروز, ; ), zh, 诺鲁孜节, ug, نەۋروز, ka, ნოვრუზ, ku, Newroz, he, נורוז, kk, Наурыз, ky, Нооруз, mn, Наурыз, ur, نوروز, tg, Наврӯз, tr, Nevruz, tk, Nowruz, ...

''), which is celebrated in many places throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. It also corresponds with the beginning of the Baháʼí calendar, which is celebrated as ''

Baháʼí Naw-Rúz Naw-Rúz ( fa, نوروز, Nowruz) is the first day of the Baháʼí calendar year and one of eleven holy days for adherents of the Baháʼí Faith. It occurs on the vernal equinox, on or near March 21, which is the traditional Iranian New Ye ...

''. Other holidays occurring around this time include '' Ostara'' (amongst neopagans), ''

Chunfen The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. ''Chūnfēn'', ''Shunbun'', ''Chunbun'', or ''Xuân phân'' is the 4th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 0° and ends when it reaches the ...

'' in China, and

Vernal Equinox Day is a public holiday in Japan that occurs on the date of the Northward equinox in Japan Standard Time (the vernal equinox can occur on different dates in different time-zones), usually March 20 or 21. The date of the holiday is not officially ...

(a public holiday in Japan), among others.

See also