The first day of autumn is right around the corner! This year it falls on September 22, 2010 at 11:09 PM (Eastern). It’s called the autumnal equinox, and this real life event is a great way to work a little astronomy and world culture into your homeschool lessons.
There are two equinoxes during the year, the vernal and the autumnal. In the northern hemisphere, the vernal equinox heralds the first day of spring, and the Autumnal officially begins fall. On the equinox, there is an equal amount of sunlight and darkness. From here on out in North America, the days will be getting shorter and nightfall will occur earlier and earlier.
The Equinox isn’t merely an astronomical event. Many cultures and traditions mark the day with special ceremonies or rituals. Why not celebrate the autumnal equinox with a geographic trip around the world? Get a map and mark the countries as you learn about them.
The pyramid El Castillo at Chichen Itza, built by the Mayans, was specifically designed to create patterns of significance on the Equinoxes. The form of their serpent god, Kulkukan, appears in the play of shadow and light on these two days of the year. Watch footage of the Equinox shadows (Spanish, with English subtitles). The precision that these cultures constructed their monuments, without computers, is amazing!
In Ancient Ireland and Britain, the Fall Equinox was a huge celebration. The party lives on in Fall Harvest Festivals. The Castelrigg Stone Circle seems to be oriented to take advantage of the sun’s position on the autumnal equinox, when the sun rises over a prominent knoll.
The Autumnal Equinox has been a national holiday in Japan since 1948. It’s traditionally a day spent with family and visiting the graves of loved one.
In Korea, the three day fall festival of Chuseok is held around the equinox. Similar to Japan, it’s a time of remembrance and pilgrimages to ancestral lands and holdings to honor ancestors. It’s also a time of feasting with traditional foods and an abundant spread at the table.
How do you mark the seasons?
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Tagged as: astonomy, Autumnal equinox, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Chichen Itza, Chuseok, el castillo, fall equinox, fall harvest, Kulkulcan
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