Autumnal Equinox Day takes place on 22nd September in 2012. While it also falls on this date next year, in 2014 it will take place on 23rd September instead.
Autumnal Equinox Day signals the start of the fall season and is the point where there are 12 hours of daylight and darkness at the equator precisely. Those who live elsewhere, however, will see either a bit less or a bit more than those 12 hours of daylight. The hours of daylight begin to dwindle from this point and will continue to do so until the arrival of the Winter Solstice, which is the year’s shortest day and also the start of the winter season.
The Autumnal Equinox was the cause for a number of pagan festivals back in ancient times, such as the celebration of the birth of the son of Morden, the Goddess of the Earth, who went by the name of Mabon.
Autumnal Equinox is the time to celebrate with a number of harvest and fall festivals. Fall festivals are very much enjoyed by the great majority of people due to the fact that they can sense the end of a fine summer season and the commencement of a long winter period. Fall festivals tend to be the end of outdoor festivals until the arrival of spring. Getting to such festivals is often half the fun, with the drive through forests and hills alive with fall colors.
Jon Huser
