Community Corner

VIDEO: Here Comes The Sun

A crowd of residents ushered in the first sunrise of spring with a ceremony inside Sun Circle monoliths near Preston Beach.

It was still a dark winter morning when a small crowd began gathering at a ring of monoliths called "The Sun Circle" on Preston Beach on Sunday.

As residents watched the early-morning sky change from a light blue to one that featured all of the pinks, reds and oranges that Mother Nature's easel could produce, the crowd grew from a small handful to dozens.

Greeting each other with warm smiles and a friendly "Happy Spring," the more than 50 early-birds who woke up to see the season's first sunrise brought along binoculars, cameras and spiritual items.

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As sunrise grew near, many in attendance became preoccupied with checking their cell phones to see what time it was, as if reassuring themselves that they hadn't missed it. They were certain that the first sunrise of spring would arrive at exactly at 6:48 a.m.

The Stonehenge-esque ring of monoliths near Preston Beach had a special set of stone markers for the spring equinox and many of the excited residents that turned out Sunday took turns lining up their cameras with the exact spot the sun would rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

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In the minutes before sunrise, some crowd members began lighting sticks of incense, another pulled out his cell phone and began playing "Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles.

As the first glimpse of sunlight broke over the horizon, the mood of the crowd quickly turned from pensive to jubilant. Their reaction featured all of the oo's and ah's that typically accompany a Fourth of July fireworks display.

After the first sunrise of spring arrived, Donald Orne, one of the Sun Circle's caretakers and chairman of the Marblehead Peace Committee, honored the seven directions by sounding a ceremonial peace gong and asked those in attendance to turn their minds to the world's less fortunate.

"As we watch the sun rise this morning let us compassionately hold Japan in our hearts and send them our unconditional love and support," Orne said. "Let us remember also Libya,  Afghanistan, the Middle East and other areas of turbulence and stress. And let us never forget the sons and daughters who keep us free and safe to enjoy this shining day."

March Equinox across Cultures

In the northern hemisphere the March equinox marks the start of spring and has long been celebrated as a time of rebirth. Many cultures and religions celebrate or observe holidays and festivals around the time of the March equinox, such as the Easter holiday period.

The astronomical Persian calendar begins its New Year on the day when the March equinox occurs before apparent noon (the midpoint of the day, sundial time, not clock time) in Tehran. The start of the New Year is postponed to the next day if the equinox is after noon.


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