Can an ordinary person determine the day of the vernal equinox for themselves by simple means?

Around the vernal equinox the Sun is moving Northward at the fastest rate of the year so from the middle to the end of March you would need to check the sunset every day. You might not know that the equinox had occurred until the next sunset.Remember the center of the Sun must set due west, the Sun is about 1/2 a degree in width so using the edges will add an error to your measurement.. Also you must have a clear horizon for this to work. The Sun set at an angle for instances if you are at a latitude of 40 degrees the Sun makes a 50 degree angle with the horizon.Basically this is what the ancient used to determine the vernal equinox.The same principal can be used to determine the autumnal equinox in September, except the Sun is heading south everyday at the fastest rate of the year.