Autumnal Equinoxes and Their Old Mysteries...or is it?

Hi its not been that long since my previous post, but so much has happened the previous weeek. That I find it important to tell you. Some might not even know what an Autumnal/Fall Equinox is...do you? Perhaps you do after all and if you do not know. No worries! Because that is exactly what I will tell you

What is an Equinox? (Bit of Science)

On any other day of the year, the Earth's axis tilts a little away from or towards the Sun. But on the two equinoxes, the Earth's axis tilts neither away from nor towards the Sun.  This occurs every March (Vernal/Spring Equinox) and September (Autumnal/Fall Equinox)

Information borrowed  from .. http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/autumnal-equinox.html

What does the word Equinox mean exactly? 

e·qui·nox

  [ee-kwuh-noks, ek-wuh-]  Show IPA

noun

1.

the time when the sun crosses the plane of the earth's equator, making night and day of  approximately equal length all over the earth and occurring about March 21 (vernal equinox orspring equinox)  and September 22 (autumnal equinox)

2.

either of the equinoctial points.

Origin: 
1350–1400; Middle English  < Medieval Latin equinoxium,  for Latin aequinoctium  the time of equal days andnights ( aequi- equi- + noct-  (stem of nox ) night + -ium -ium)

Ah ha! Clever medieval latin.... you had us there..

So if we are to understand this correctly  Autumnal Equinox is the exact balance between night and day? Quite amazing isn't it?

Harvest Celebrations:

Close to the Autumnal Equinox nears also close to the last harvest from long ago. The last harvest would indicate, that one would get the remainder of the last crops that grew at the end of August, sheered,cut, plucked and butchered (need meat for the winter months!) Prepared for conservation through salt, herbs, smoking, pickled fruits and vegetables in vinegar or alcohol. And lasltly for thousands of years brewing spirits or beer/ale or meade in the northern parts of Europe. Southern Europe had more than enough grapes to make excellent wine from their harvests. 

Why did people use soo much time on just harvest? One because they had no refrigriator, no freezer, they had barrels, clay pots and a bit later glass artifacts especially blown to hold a specific kind of liquid or food. Many homes row upon row with jars, and prepared for the cold winter when all is close to dead. People had to survive didn't they?

Many odd rites and rituals were done,

after the leftover grains had been stomped on the fields. Some traditions say one had to leave some sheaves of grain to the fae or nature spirits who resided in the area. So that they could help with good crops next year. Other traditions include setting out food and some form of alcholic drink to honour and "bless" the field. As it has been taken from the earth a portion is returned in gratitude.

 

Now I happen to know some Wiccans and some Pagans would argue in the modern sense. Due to the fact that they celebrate the first and second harvest as apart of their calendar "The Wheel of The Year."  One cannot fully understand unless one lived in these older days, life was simpler and yet not as simple, many struggled between enough scraps on the table and avoid the next epidemic. However the fact is that thanks to a tiny bit of christianity (believe it or not) the sense and spirit of Harvest Festivities has survived throughout the centuries. Not many longer credit the nature spirits but the christian God. 

I'm most certain you have attended a mass/sermon or ceremony in church around October/November? You have haven't you? You have most likely thanked God at every meal you had with family and I believe Halloween and Thanksgiving..would be the modern versions of these gatherings. 

I will just say this all corners of the world have their own forms of  harvest festivals, Europe,Asia, Oceania, North America, South America, Africa...the whole world...

My personal traditions with the harvest is church sermons. Though in recent years I have tried a more pagan approach. And preffered to give blessings to all the farms in my surrounding area, since I live in the country its only fair to support my community.

Until next time enjoy your Autumn it will stay awhile!