Day of the Autumn Equinox: what absolutely must not be done, folk omens

At the end of September, the Sun will be perpendicular to the Earth's equator, due to which both hemispheres of the planet will be illuminated equally, and the duration of daylight and night will be equal. From this moment in the Northern Hemisphere will come astronomical fall, and in the Southern Hemisphere - spring. Scientists call this transition period the day of the autumnal equinox. Since ancient times, the equinox was spent in a special way, dedicating this day to the end of field work and summarizing the results of the past season. In our time, according to astrologers, the day of the fall equinox is a period of energy depletion, which is important to fill with positive emotions and love for loved ones. When will come the day of the autumnal equinox in 2024, how it was celebrated by our ancestors and what is better to do in this period - in the material "Izvestia".

Day of the autumnal equinox: when in September 2024

The equinox is an annual astronomical phenomenon in which the Sun, moving along the ecliptic, crosses the celestial equator, being perpendicular to the equator of the Earth. Because of this movement on both hemispheres of the planet gets an equal amount of sunlight, and the boundary of day and night passes exactly at the poles. Therefore, on the entire Earth during the fall equinox, day and night last approximately 12 hours each. However, due to the refraction of sunlight, the day at the equinox will be a few minutes longer.

There are two equinoxes during the year - spring and fall equinoxes. The fall equinox day marks the beginning of astronomical fall in the Northern Hemisphere, while spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere.

Exactly in these two days of equinoxes duration of day and night is compared, the Sun on all latitudes rises exactly in the east, and sets exactly in the west. At the poles, half of the solar disk moves in a circle along the horizon. If the Earth had no atmosphere, then at the poles you could see exactly half of the Sun above the horizon. But due to the effect of refraction, the solar disk is slightly "raised" above the horizon line.

In 2024, the day of the autumnal equinox falls on September 22. The change will begin at 15:43 Moscow time, or 12:43 p.m. Universal Time (UT). The day of the vernal equinox this year fell on the beginning of spring - March 20.

After the autumnal equinox, the daylight hours in the Northern Hemisphere will begin to decrease rapidly. For example, if in Moscow at the beginning of September the daylight hours last 13 hours 49 minutes, by the end of the month it will be reduced to 11 hours 40 minutes. Its minimum daylight hours will reach December 22, 2024 - during the winter solstice. After that, the process will go in the opposite direction: it will start to get lighter earlier, and darker - later.

Thus the autumnal equinox in 2024 falls on September 22 only in the Northern Hemisphere, in the Southern Hemisphere on this day will pass the vernal equinox. Therefore, for residents of Australia, most of South America and Africa after September 22, the day will become longer than the night, and the weather will begin to improve.

Interesting fact: the duration of the cold fall-winter period in the Northern Hemisphere is seven days shorter than in the Southern Hemisphere. The number of days from spring to fall equinox is 186, and from fall to spring equinox - 179. Astronomers attribute this to the difference in the speed of movement: during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the planet moves around the Sun faster than during the winter period in the Southern Hemisphere.

In addition to the days of the equinoxes, scientists distinguish the days of the winter and summer solstice. In winter at this astronomical phenomenon, the Sun occupies the lowest point relative to the Earth's horizon, and in summer - vice versa: the height of the Sun in the sky becomes the greatest.

Day of the autumnal equinox on September 22: folk omens and prohibitions

Since ancient times, many peoples have associated the days of the equinox with various magical rituals and ceremonies that were supposed to placate the gods and spirits.

Thus, the ancient Celts celebrated on the day of the autumnal equinox holiday Mabon, dedicated to the harvest. The celebration was included in the list of eight holidays of the Wheel of the Year - an ancient calendar based on changes in the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun.

Some historians also support the theory that the famous archaeological monument Stonehenge, located in present-day England, was erected by the ancient population of this land for rituals that were mainly held during the equinox and solstice periods.

In Japan, the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes since the late XIX century received a special status. Residents celebrate the days of these natural changes at the level of public holidays. In the days of the equinox, the Japanese memorialize the dead and visit burial sites. And on these two holidays it is not customary to eat meat dishes. Therefore, traditional rice cakes and legume dishes are served on the festive table.

In the ancient Slavs, the day of the autumnal equinox was dedicated to women and women in labor. The holiday was celebrated for a long time - a week before the date of the celebration and a week after. According to the belief, water at this time acquired a special magical power - it strengthened health and gave beauty. Therefore, on the equinox they tried to wash more often.

After the Baptism of Russia on the equinox began to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the appearance of the Virgin Mary. In Orthodoxy, the celebration is one of the bipedal church holidays and is celebrated on September 21.

With the autumnal equinox is also associated with the occurrence of many weather omens. According to the temperature and precipitation on this day tried to guess what will be the coming fall. For example, if the day of the equinox was sunny and cool, it means that prolonged rains and frosts will come very soon. On the contrary, dry and warm weather on September 22 heralded the onset of cold autumn and harsh winter.

On the day of the autumnal equinox predicted the weather for the fall-winter period and natural resources. Ancestors believed that a large number of acorns - to a snowy Christmas, and if the willow began to shed leaves - wait for a cold winter.

The "harvest" of rowan trees also meant a frosty winter. Housekeepers at the equinox picked rowan berries and spread the berry bunches between the window frames to protect them from evil spirits and sickness. According to the number of berries in the bunches, they guessed what the coming winter would be like. The more berries there were, the stronger the frosts would hit and the later the spring would come, the ancestors believed.

In Russia, the end of autumn marked the end of field work. Peasants finished harvesting, after which they thanked nature and asked her for fertility in the new year. On this day, it was customary to invite relatives and neighbors for a festive meal. The main dishes of the table were pies with cabbage and lingonberries. After the meal near the house they sang cheerful songs and ditties, thus welcoming the arrival of fall.

The autumnal equinox is a time of purification and preparation for winter. According to the existing beliefs, on the autumnal equinox it was not recommended to start new business and projects, because it is important to complete everything that was started, so that other plans and schemes were successful. It was forbidden to quarrel and quarrel with others, as conflicts on this day could attract negative energy and spoil the whole upcoming season.

It was not allowed to borrow money or make large purchases on the equinox. It was believed that, having given money on this day, one could face great financial difficulties in the future. It was also forbidden to leave a mess at home. The ancestors believed that on the autumn equinox it was necessary to get rid of old and unnecessary things, as well as to clean the house. After cleaning, candles were lit in the rooms to cleanse the space from evil spirits and protect the family from troubles, illnesses and bad luck.

Astrological forecast for the day of the fall equinox in 2024

According to astrologers, the autumn equinox is not only a symbolic point of reference, after which the day shortens. Sunlight, as well as vital energy, is also becoming less. By analogy with nature, biological processes in the human body are slowing down, which affects the general condition.

Olga Shipilo, a practicing numerologist and expert in digital psychoanalysis, told Izvestia that the day of the autumnal equinox is based on a sense of responsibility and duty, which is important to direct to the realization and development of good goals. This can be the help of loved ones or acquaintances.

The expert emphasized that September 22 is a day emotionally overloaded. Therefore, it is necessary to remain vigilant and do not succumb to external tension. In relationships should not be drunk on your vision of the situation, proving your point of view. In this period, it is better to try to understand the inner motives of a loved one.

"Impulsiveness and emotionality can break a lot of wood, and said words will remain in the memory of another person for a long time, and the consequences can remind of themselves for a very long time. Therefore, it is important to remember this and not to emotionally fountain, so as not to go into negative living of the day," - said Olga Shipilo.

Ambitions due to the emotional pressure of the day can be off the charts, in the field of relationships can easily "overreact. In this scenario, it is important to adjust to the fact that you can meet resistance from the other side, which can lead to destructive communication. It is only through accepting the point of view of the opposite party that the goal can be achieved, the expert said.

The main danger of today is the desire to emphasize small things. This may concern both the attitude to oneself, manifesting itself in self-eating and low self-esteem, and pettiness in relations with others, which can be expressed in nagging and burrowing in secondary tasks.

On September 22, you should carefully filter information and separate the important from the insignificant. It is best to focus on the main goal of life, which will become a reference point among the waiting provocations and negative situations, the expert concluded.

On the day of the autumnal equinox it is important to pay attention to your health and avoid excessive stress. It is favorable to analyze your achievements, make plans and revise them, not forgetting to mentally thank fate for the opportunities provided.

The positive energy sent in this way is subsequently returned. It is worth thanking both those around you and yourself. According to astrologers, this process will fill you with positive feelings and motivate you for new achievements.