How to Celebrate the Fall Equinox

The fall equinox is the point in time when the sun crosses the equator, making daylight and darkness approximately twelve hours each. As symbol of balance and harvest, the fall equinox has been celebrated throughout history in many cultures and nations. Modern celebrations often focus on the same elements of harvest, balance, and gratitude, and can be adapted easily to fit individual circumstances and desires.

Instructions

1. Throw a party to celebrate the fall equinox. Use food, decorations, and colors that reflect the time of year. Squash, apples, corn and root vegetables (such as potatoes, carrots, jicama and parsnips) are good choices. You could include wine tasting as part of the party, as the full moon around the fall equinox is also called the Wine Moon because the grapes are ready to be harvested and pressed. Decorate with seasonal items, such as a cornucopia or vases with fall leaves.

2. Embrace the season. Go to a farmers' market for fresh produce, take a hike to see the changing colors of the leaves, try a new recipe for pumpkin or apples or rake (and jump in!) some leaves.

3. Be thankful. Gratitude for a plentiful harvest is a common theme in many fall equinox celebrations. Expand this idea to include gratitude for whatever good things are gracing your life: family, friends, health, career. Express your thankfulness in a simple ceremony or by writing your feelings in a journal. Involve your family by filling a gratitude jar with slips of paper listing what you are thankful for.

4. Get to know your roots. Find out how the cultures of your ancestry celebrated the fall equinox and use similar ideas in your own celebration. Read up on harvest mythologies such as Demeter and Persephone, the Japanese traditions of honoring family, or the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza.

5. Meditate on the balance of your life. The equinox often symbolizes balance and can be an opportunity to reflect on the light and dark aspects of our lives and how they influence us.

6. Visit a planetarium and learn about the position of the sun and how the sun's relationship to Earth changes throughout the year. Compare the seasons of where you live to other places on the globe and discuss how the position of the sun influences seasonal changes.

Tips & Warnings

• While eggs may be balanced on end any day of the year, it is traditionally associated with the equinoxes and can be a fun activity for children. Try to balance an egg (on its wide end) on a flat, smooth surface.