Spring equinox comes with two notably different features this year— one sad, one happy. First is the inescapable way the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped almost every aspect of life. And that includes the cancellations of annual equinox rituals and celebrations around the world, including popular places such as Stonehenge in England and Chichen Itza in Mexico. But on a much brighter note, the sun and Earth continue their eternal business unimpeded by a virus — and we're getting a little jump on things this year. This is the earliest arrival of spring equinox in 124 years. It arrived today, Thursday, March 19, for almost all of the Americas. Much of the rest of the world will see its arrival in the early hours of Friday, March 20.