Fall Equinox Celebrations

On September 23rd at 5:51 AM EDT, this year's Fall Equinox begins and the sun enters the sign of Libra. The sun will cross the equator and day and night will be of equal length once again.

The Fall Equinox is known by many different names like the Autumn Equinox, Cornucopia, Feast of Avalon, Harvest Home, Festival of Dionysus, Mabon, Night of the Hunter, Harvest Tide, Second Harvest Festival, Witch's Thanksgiving, Wine Harvest and the first day of Autumn.

The full moon that is closest to the Autumn Equinox is known as the Harvest Moon, as farmers used to harvest their crops at night with the help of this full moon. The month of September also brings about the Wine Moon.

Many celebrations will be taking place on the Fall Equinox to celebrate the coming of a new season. Some of the different religions/cultures around the world that will celebrate the Fall Equinox are:

The Chumash Tribe

The Chumash are a Native American tribe from Southern California. Their Fall Equinox sun ceremony is celebrated during the Chumash month of Hutash, known to us as September. Their ceremony takes place right after the harvest is picked and has been stored. The Chumash tribe gathers together and focuses on the importance of togetherness during confinement in winter, death and rebirth.

The Christian Church

The Christian church replaced Pagan solstice celebrations with their own Christian tradition called Michaelmas, which is the feast dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is customary in England to eat a goose on Michaelmas to protect financial interests in the coming year. In Ireland, finding a ring in your pie means that you will soon be married.

Druids

The Druids celebrate the Fall Equinox as Mea'n Fo'mhair and give thanks to The Green Man or the God of the Forest, by offering gifts dedicated to the trees. Some of the Druids' offerings are ciders, wines and herbs.

Wiccans and Pagans