Stemming from the Latin words “aequi,” (equal) and “nox” (night), the Autumn Equinox marks one of the two moments when day and night are of equal length across the planet. It is a time for cultural celebrations, harvesting the bounty of summer, and preparing for the cold months ahead. It is also an opportunity to enjoy the last days of plentiful sunshine and reflect on our successes (harvest) of the year. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Autumn Equinox?

👉 Official Name: Autumn Equinox
💚 Cause: Celebrates one of the two yearly celestial phenomena when day and night are of equal length
📅 Next Date: September 22, 2025
🐦 Hashtags: #AutumnEquinox, #AutumnalEquinox, #FallEquinox, #SeptemberEquinox

Keep reading to find all the important information about the Autumn Equinox at a glance: its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About the Autumn Equinox at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: The Autumn Equinox, also called the Autumnal Equinox, Fall Equinox, or September Equinox, is a significant phenomenon when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length. In the Northern Hemisphere, the September Equinox marks the first day of astronomical autumn. The reverse is true in the Southern Hemisphere, where the same equinox signals the first day of spring. Since ancient times, cultures have celebrated this moment of agricultural harvest by honoring nature and their ancestors. Today, there are many festivals worldwide dedicated to this event and its symbols.

2️⃣ Why it is important: The Autumn Equinox has been for millennia a time to connect with nature and enjoy the abundant sunlight, as the days were beginning to shorten. It is also a time to enjoy our harvest, whether it is about the bounty of nature, herbs, fruits, and legumes, or it is about the harvest of our lives. It is a great moment to reflect on our accomplishments of the past year and allow ourselves to pause, stay in balance (like the day and night), and offer ourselves gratitude for “the fruits of our labor”. In addition, this can be a great opportunity to connect with our community and nature around us by joining official celebrations. 

3️⃣ How you can celebrate: You can observe the Autumn Equinox by preparing autumnal meals, spending time in nature, or honoring your achievements:

1. Enjoy seasonal foods: The Fall Equinox is a wonderful time to celebrate with food. You can organize picnics and outdoor feasts with friends and experiment with tasty dishes using seasonal ingredients, such as apples, grapes, pears, and pumpkins. In addition, you can make Mooncakes, a traditional Chinese food during equinox festivals. 
2. Revel in nature: A great way to take in the magic of the autumn season is to spend this day in nature, admiring the changing colors of the trees, and the green still present. You can also pick up flowers, nuts, fruits, herbs, and other symbols of harvest to create a little altar or indoor arrangement. 
3. Take some “me time”: This Autumn Equinox, why not take some time to appreciate your own “harvest”? Enjoy a calm moment in nature or indoors and reflect on your achievements for this year, honoring your efforts and struggles that led to success. Also, you can set intentions to let go of what doesn’t support you now. 

A Brief History of the Autumn Equinox

When was this event established: The Autumn Equinox has been a way of timekeeping for societies since prehistoric times. For example, ancient peoples tracked the position of the sun to predict equinoxes and solstices by constructing sites such as Stonehenge and Newgrange in the UK and the Majorville Medicine Wheel in Canada. Civilizations like the Mayans, Egyptians, and Druids marked the equinox as a time of harvest and thanksgiving, honoring the balance between light and dark. Furthermore, ancient Romans celebrated this event with the Vulcanalia festival while the ancient Chinese reveled in their harvest and made offerings to the moon.

How has it developed since then: With the spread of Christianity in Europe from the 5^th century, the Autumn Equinox became associated with the feast of Michaelmas, honoring the archangel Michael. This Christian festival incorporated traditions from earlier harvest celebrations, blending religious and cultural practices. Still, pagan commemorations became less widespread. In the 8^th century, Japanese Buddhists started celebrating the Higan holiday on the Fall Equinox. This astrological event is also said to have inspired the current American Thanksgiving. Today, the Autumnal Equinox is observed by neopagans through the feast of Mabon. 

3 Interesting Facts About the Autumn Equinox

1. Magical northern lights: The Autumn Equinox starts the period when we can see the famous Aurora Borealis, continuing to the Spring Equinox in March. This celestial display of brilliantly colored lights forms when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere at incredible speeds. The event’s name was coined in 1619 by Galileo Galilei, from the Roman Aurora, goddess of the dawn, and the Greek Boreas, god of the cold north wind. 
2. Asian festivities: In Japan, the Autumnal Equinox Day is a public holiday on which people visit temples and enjoy family gatherings. China, South Korea, and North Korea have autumn harvest ceremonies on the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month, around the Autumnal Equinox. For example, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an official holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Also, the Chuseok festival in South Korea is a three-day holiday and the largest traditional observance nationwide. 
3. Effects on nature: As the days become shorter after the Autumn Equinox, deciduous trees receive less sunlight, heat, and water for photosynthesis. This triggers them to retrieve nutrients and sugars from the leaves to prepare for a dormant state in winter by making their leaves fall. In addition, many animal species respond to the shortening days by preparing for migration, mating, or hibernating to ensure survival over the coming season.

Upcoming Dates of the Autumn Equinox

The Autumn Equinox is observed every year anywhere between September 21 and September 24. 

Never Miss an Important Awareness Event Again

Sources

• Art Nature Place: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox
• History.com: fall equinox
• Wikipedia: September Equinox
• BBC Good Food: Budget autumn recipes
• The Pioneer Woman: 15 Fall Fruits for a Sweet Harvest Season
• Red House Spice: MOONCAKES, A CLASSIC RECIPE (广式月饼)
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• June Home Supply: Fall Equinox: Reflections and Intentions
• Medium: What Autumn Can Teach Us About Gracefully Letting Go
• History.com: Stonehenge
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• Wikipedia: Majorville Cairn and Medicine Wheel site
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• Vindolanda: Vulcanalia: A Festival for Fire (Fyre Festival)
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• Space.com: Northern lights (aurora borealis)
• Wikipedia: Aurora (etymology)
• Wikipedia: Aurora (mythology)
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• Wikipedia: Mid-Autumn Festival
• Wikipedia: Chuseok
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