The autumnal equinox is one of two days during the year when day and night are of equal length. Here are some ideas rooted in ancient traditions to celebrate the beginning of the fall season.
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You Will Need
- Stones
- Scale
- Wicker
- Grapes or wine
- Burning Man (optional)
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Step 1
Build a monument
Build a stone monument. The ancient structures at Stonehenge in Britain were aligned to permit determination of the equinox.
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Step 2
Weigh yourself
Weigh yourself. On the day of the fall equinox, the sun enters the sign of Libra, the constellation of scales.
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Step 3
Sacrifice an effigy
Construct a wicker effigy and sacrifice it in the spirit of the Druids, who marked the fall equinox with a mock sacrifice of the vegetation deity.
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Tip
The Burning Man Project, held each year in the Nevada desert, is a re-enactment of this ritual.
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Step 4
Have some grapes
Enjoy some grapes or a glass of wine. In France, the grape harvest traditionally coincided with the fall equinox.
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Step 5
Honor your ancestors
Honor your ancestors. In Japan, visits were traditionally made to family graves at the time of the autumnal equinox. However you celebrate the beginning of fall, make sure the memories will warm you through the cooling months ahead.
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Fact
_Equinox_ comes from a Latin word meaning equal night.
