Autumn Equinox  

By Calia Bennett and Lea Bracken 

What is an autumn equinox? The autumn equinox is a day when the sun crosses the equator. The autumn equinox can be known as the first day of fall. A lot of people get excited when fall hits because Halloween follows not too long after.  

The autumnal equinox is one of two periods during the year when the Sun is directly above the Equator and the lengths of day and night are equal. Astronomically, it marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. This year’s equinox will land on September 22. 

The fall harvest has been celebrated since ancient times, when agrarian cultures relied greatly on agriculture and natural cycles. This was the time to gather the year’s final crops and prepare for the colder, darker months ahead. This is why many see the autumn equinox also as a moment to celebrate, connect with nature, renew old traditions, and bring in a new season. 

There are many ways that people celebrate the equinox. Some people enjoy a meal with their families, while others may go for nature walks. When interviewing Jasmine Sadler, a student from ADT, about what she thought about the autumn equinox she said, “I absolutely love it and it’s the best season of the year.” When interviewing Liv Anderson, a student from Automotive, about her thoughts on the autumn equinox she said, “I think it can’t come fast enough. I’m so done with the hot weather.” 

The autumn equinox can mean different things to different people. One person may celebrate with friends, while another may not celebrate the day at all. While an autumn equinox can be different for everyone, it’s essentially just a point in the seasons changed due to the sun being directly above the equator.