| Is it true that you can stand an egg on end during the | | | | This amazing legend originated with the Chinese. |
| Spring Equinox? The answer is YES. I heard this | | | | According to Chinese legend standing an egg on end |
| legend several years ago and couldn't wait to try it out. | | | | can only occur when spring begins. The only problem |
| Hurrying home from work on the 21st of March, I | | | | with this is that the Chinese calendar had this transition |
| couldn't wait to stand an egg on end. (I was leading a | | | | occurring at various times each year. Being determined |
| rather boring life at the time.) An idle mind is a terrible | | | | in part by the Chinese lunar month which was normally |
| thing. | | | | in February, their first day of spring didn't occur during |
| Rushing to the refrigerator, I only had a few minutes | | | | the actual equinox. |
| until the exact minute when the sun would pass over | | | | This myth pops up regular as rain every spring. I |
| the equator on it's way north. | | | | myself believed it for many years. The truth is, with a |
| Finding a perfect egg, I hurriedly placed it on my end | | | | large amount of patience,you can stand an egg on end |
| table, after several tries,and just as the spring equinox | | | | any day of the year. |
| began the egg balanced itself on it's end, it worked. | | | | The most dominant force of gravity is the one |
| Amazed, I watched it for several minutes before | | | | between the earth and the egg itself, the sun or moon |
| resuming my action filled life. | | | | have no effect on the egg whatsoever. To prove it to |
| Some people think the egg can only stand on end | | | | yourself, take a large uncooked egg from the |
| because of some gravitational force from the sun | | | | refrigerator and hold it resting the end on a counter top |
| being aligned with the earth as the it passes over the | | | | or table, let the fluid content settle and gently find the |
| equator. The moon, however,exerts more influence | | | | balance point of the egg. It takes some practice and a |
| and gravitational pull than the sun. The moon dominates | | | | steady hand but it can be accomplished. Once the egg |
| the ebb and flow of our ocean's tides, and it's | | | | is balanced and undisturbed, it is not uncommon for the |
| gravitational pull is different at the equinoxes. If any | | | | egg to remain in this position for days. |
| celestial body would be able to exert enough influence | | | | Try this at different times of the year, just to confirm |
| to cause an egg to stand on end it would be the | | | | to yourself that the moon or sun have no effect on |
| moon. | | | | the end result. There are many things in our life that |
| Only years later would I be crushed when I found out | | | | the sun and moon affect, balancing eggs on end just |
| the truth about the EGG. (no yoke intended.) | | | | isn't one of them. |
| Who was the first person to do this and why? | | | | |