Saturday, September 24, 2005
A (Late) Happy Equinox to All!
It has been a busy week... and I wanted to mention the Fall Equinox... even though I am a few days late.
The Autumnal Equinox
As with the Vernal Equinox, the Autumnal or Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon to those who follow the Olde Way, is the time when day and night are equal. Here the land is full of the gifts of nature and the effort of humankind.
The night air has a tang about it, the darkness of winter is coming and it's time for the earth to sleep until the sun is again brought forth from the dark.
The Second Harvest
In the ancient cycle of the year, this was actually the second harvest; the first harvest festival occurs on August 1st and is known as Lammas.
As methods of agriculture became more uniform and sophisticated, the autumn harvest was moved back until the last possible growing time was completed to maximize its size.
As such, the Autumnal Equinox became synonymous with not only the completion of the harvest, but also the end of summer.
If you are interested in more information, go here.
