Equinox comes from the Latin words “aequi,” which means equal, and “nox,” which means night. It is the time when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and for a brief time, day and night are of nearly equal length across the planet.
This year's Autumn Equinox occurs at 3:21pm on September 22.
In the Northern hemisphere, this marks the beginning of astronomical fall. Though the leaves are still mostly green here in New England, hints of warm color are beginning to creep into the landscape. A single day can contain twelve different kinds of weather, from cool and foggy mornings to hot and sunny afternoons, to balmy, blustery rainstorms—or even hurricanes.
The lesson? Dress in layers. Bring your sunglasses AND your umbrella. Build in time for a walk, because at some point during the day it is probably going to be beautiful out.
The Autumn Equinox marks the beginning of a truly great season here in Western MA.
Though things are cooling off, there is still time for one last dip at your favorite swimming hole. Farm stands are still brimming with fresh produce, pumpkins are beginning to appear on porches, and apple-picking season is in full effect.
At home, many of us are are breaking out our rakes or leaf blowers in preparation for the leaves that will soon begin to flutter down. We are moving our sweaters to the front of the closet, placing extra blankets at the foot of the bed, looking up recipes for homemade bread—all the while knowing that another August-style heat wave could arrive at any moment. We are New Englanders, after all.
Regardless of today's weather, the Autumn Equinox marks a time when we begin to prepare ourselves for the cooler, darker months ahead. Our thoughts begin to turn inward as we reflect on seasons past, while gathering our energy for new projects. Our relationship with our home begins to shift, imperceptibly, as we start looking for ways to make things tidier, cozier, and more functional for the coming season.
However you choose to celebrate arrival of fall, we wish you a happy, healthy, and productive time in the months to come!