Most of the Earth will experience about 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness during the fall equinox.
The word “equinox” comes from Latin aequus, meaning “equal,” and nox, “night.” On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length.
After the autumnal equinox, days become shorter than nights as the Sun continues to rise later and nightfall arrives earlier. This ends with the Winter Solstice when days start to grow longer once again.
The fall equinox has been a day of celebration for many cultures since ancient days. People tracked the transitions of the Earth’s journeys around the Sun.
- At Machu Picchu in Peru, an ancient stone monument called Intihuatana—which means “Hitching Post of the Sun”—serves as a solar clock to mark the dates of the equinoxes and solstices.
- In Mexico, the Mayans built a giant pyramid called Chichen Itza. On the equinoxes, it looks as if a snake made of light slithers down the pyramid’s steps.
- In England, Stonehenge was also built with the equinoxes and solstices in mind.
The leaves are turning and starting to fall. It’s getting a little chillier at night. There’s a lot to look forward to with the holidays ahead. Apple cider and hot chocolate sound good on the menu. It’s a time to reflect and enjoy nature’s changing beauty.
Have a Happy Fall Season!