The autumnal equinox—also called the September or fall equinox—is the astronomical start of the fall season in the Northern Hemisphere and the spring season in the Southern Hemisphere.
What Is An Equinox?
I think, for the most part, we all know the answer to this question. Some people, though, only think of the equinox as either the beginning of spring or the beginning of summer. The word “equinox” means, in Latin, “equal” and “night,” meaning that day and night are roughly equal in time.
After tomorrow (the 22nd), the sun will begin to rise later and set sooner.
Meteorological vs Astronomical Seasons
There are actually two ends of summer, the Equinox, and, for meteorologists, September 1. Yes, the weather folks start talking about Fall on the first of September, barely blinking an eye on the day itself.
And really, if they would blink, they could miss it. The Equinox isn’t a day-long thing. It happens at a particular moment, the moment the Sun crosses the “celestial equator.”
This year, in my Eastern time zone, it will cross at 9:30 AM.
So, Now It’s Fall. What To Do? What To Do?
The changing seasons are perfect for family outings, getting the kids and the family pets out to do fun and interesting things. 10 ideas for the first day of fall come from this website.
Go for a nature hike: A fun fall activity doesn’t have to be all that complicated. It can be as easy as finding a pleasant trail and going for a hike. Cbeck the website for ideas on what to wear for a fall hike.
Carve a jack-o-lantern: The first day of fall is usually around the 22nd of September, so more than a month away from Halloween. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start carving pumpkins early. Head to a pumpkin patch and find a few pumpkins to carve up. You can always carve a few more before the end of October.
Preserve leaves: Preserving autumn leaves is a timeless tradition and a perfect activity for kids (or fall enthusiasts.) The website has tips on how to preserve leaves.
Visit an orchard: Around this time of year, farms and orchards will open their doors to the public and for tours and picking opportunities. Not only are their fresh apples to pick, but freshly made cider is usually available in the fall as well. An apple orchard is a great place to go to get outside and enjoy some fresh autumn air.
Find a festival: Autumn is a time of festivals, and most communities will have at least one. These festivals bring members of the community together to bond over good food, good drink, and fun activities. They are generally family friendly too.
Go to a football game: For many, autumn means pumpkin spice, fresh cider, changing leaves, and chilly weather. For some living in the United States, fall means only football season. If you can’t find a major football game near you, most junior high and high schools have teams with games open to the general public. Go cheer on your local team.
Visit a pumpkin patch: Visiting pumpkin patches is a quintessential autumn activity. These farms often have huge pumpkin fields, orchards, petting zoos, corn mazes, and fresh produce you can buy and take home. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon; getting fresh air, picking out the perfect pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns, and supporting local farms.
Roast pumpkin seeds: Once you’ve carved out your locally picked pumpkins, roast the seeds for a delicious and healthy treat. Roasting pumpkin seeds is simple. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Then toss the seeds into a bowl of melted butter and salt. Once your oven hits 300 degrees, spread the seeds out on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes. Voila. Roasted pumpkin seeds.
Have a bonfire: Fall bonfires are one of our favorite things to do when the weather starts getting colder. Getting together with good friends, drinking cider, warming up by the fire, and roasting marshmallows screams fall to us.
Watch the leaves change: Usually by the first day of fall, deciduous tree leaves are beginning to change across the Northern Hemisphere. What could be better than spending a crisp, September afternoon hiking through nature, driving through the countryside, and taking in the reds, oranges, yellows, and purples of the changing leaves.
In Closing
The Equinox is a sign of fun things to come.