Autumn Equinox Customs and Celebrations
Yesterday, was the last official day of Summer. Marking this day, September 22nd, is the Autumn Equinox. But, what does this actually mean? In today’s blog, we talk about the celestial and cultural significance of the start of Fall. Plus, some ways that its celebrated around the world.
What is Autumn Equinox?
Solstices and equinoxes signal the changing of seasons on Earth. But, did you know that they are sort of opposites?
As Gooroo Ariella F. shows us, seasons on Earth change because the planet is slightly tilted on its axis as it travels around the sun. Therefore, different points on the planet receive more less sunlight and different times of the year. The two solstices are the days when the Sun’s path in the sky is the farthest north of south from the Equator:
- Winter Solstice = the shortest day of the year (meaning the shortest amount of sunlight in a day)
- Summer Solstice = the longest day of the year (meaning the longest amount of sunlight in a day)
The time of year this occurs depends on which hemisphere you live in.
On the other hand, conversely, equinoxes represent the days when the Sun is exactly above the Equator. Therefore, making day and night of equal lengths.
Thus, Autumn Equinox marks the start of Fall because it signals the days beginning to get “shorter”. Autumn or Fall occurs as a season until the Winter Solstice. This happens in the Northern Hemisphere (where New York is) on the 21st or 22nd of December.
Autumnal Associations
Autumn (also known as Fall) holds a lot of cultural and spiritual significance. During this season:
- Harvest occurs. The transition from warm to cold weather marks the time of harvesting the crops planted in the spring and the summer. The Moon Festival, celebrated in China, corresponds with what is believe to be when the moon shines its brightest and is at its fullest. Alongside this Autumn Equinox idea, it also coincides with celebration of harvest time.
- Melancholia is written about. Poetry often associated the greying skies and cooling weather with sadness. While others find Autumn to be exciting, its rather interesting to delve into the thoughts of those who came before us. Especially those without the modern convenience of a radiator!
- Halloween happens. In Celtic cultures, Halloween celebrated the harvest, the butchering of livestock, and the presence of Winter. In modern cultures, it observes Allhallowtide: the time in the year to remember the dead.
- As well as, other country-specific holidays. Such as: Thanksgiving, All Saints’ Day, and Guy Fawkes’ Day.
Customs and Celebrations
So, as we’ve discovered, Autumn Equinox holds a lot of cultural significance. But, what customs and celebrations comes with this changing of seasons?
- In Iran, it marks the first day of Mehr and Jashne Mihragan: a festival of love and friendship.
- Like we explored with China’s Moon Festival, other East Asian cultures also have major harvest festivals. In Korea, it is called Chuseok and lasts for three-days.
- In Judaism, Sukkot (one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals) falls on the first full moon after the equinox.
- From 1793 to 1805, it was “New Year’s Day” in the French Republic Calendar.
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