Autumnal equinox: Encyclopedia - Autumnal equinox

Autumnal equinox

The autumnal equinox (or fall equinox) marks the beginning of astronomical autumn. It occurs during the month of September in the Northern Hemisphere, and during March in the Southern Hemisphere. In Chinese culture it marks the middle of autumn. At the same moment that the autumnal equinox occurs in one hemisphere, it is the time of the vernal equinox in the other hemisphere.

Autumnal equinox - The solar term Qiufen in Chinese astronomy

Qiufen (秋分) is a solar term begins when Sun lies between the celestial longitude of 180° and 195°. It sometimes refers in particular to the day when Sun exactly at the celestial longitude of 180°. It usually begins around September 23, and ends around October 8.

Autumnal equinox - Holidays

Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日, Shūbun no hi) is an official national holiday in Japan, and is spent visiting family graves, and holding family reunions.

In the UK Harvest festival falls around this time.

The autumnal equinox is when the Wiccan Sabbat of Mabon is celebrated.

Autumnal Equinox Day is also "New Year's Day" in the French Republican Calendar, which was in use from 1793 to 1805. The French First Republic was proclaimed and the French monarchy was abolished on September 21, 1792, making the following day, Autumnal Equinox Day that year, the first day of the "Republican Era" in France.

See also

• Equinox
• March equinox
• September equinox
• Solstice
• Summer solstice
• Winter solstice

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Autumnal equinox", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki