09/20/2024 | Ren Lashley, Museum Day Camp Educator at The Museum of the Grand Prairie
On the Autumnal Equinox, the sun is directly above the equator, providing nearly equal amounts of daylight to both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This balance of day and night is reflected in the Latin origin of the term, where “aequi” means equal and “nox” means night. In the Northern Hemisphere, the equinox marks the shift from the long days of summer to the shorter days of winter, often coinciding with the fall harvest.
Cultures around the world recognize these dates by observing the position of the sun. On both the fall and spring equinoxes, the sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west, except at the poles. Archeologists theorize that many prehistoric sites were used to measure these dates, such as Stonehenge in England, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. While there are no written records indicating the exact purposes of these sites, the shadows they cast during the changing seasons suggest that they may have served as early calendars to monitor the sun’s movements.
In North America, Indigenous nations also mark the equinoxes and solstices with celebrations and ceremonies. For instance, the Cahokia Nation built structures like Woodhenge in Collinsville, IL. While the true name of this structure is unknown, it is colloquially called Woodhenge due to its similarity to Stonehenge in England. Woodhenge is a series of wooden posts arranged in circles that marked key solar events. During the equinox, when viewed from the center of the wooden circles, the sun rises directly due east and appears to emerge from what is today called Monks Mound about half a mile away. While much of Cahokia’s cultural and spiritual practices are preserved through oral history rather than written records, their careful attention to the equinox highlights its agricultural and cultural significance.
Cherokee nation citizens also observe seasonal transitions through ceremonies like Nuwatiegawa (Great New Moon Ceremony). Celebrated on the night of the new moon closest to the fall equinox, this ceremony marks the Cherokee New Year. Families gather for a communal feast, sharing harvest foods such as corn, beans, and pumpkin to give thanks for a bountiful season. The feast is accompanied by ceremonial dances and purification rituals, guiding participants toward a healthy and prosperous new year. These practices continue to emphasize the importance of community, gratitude, and reflection on the cycles of the seasons.
Today, while many American celebrations often center on Thanksgiving at the end of the harvest season, some communities continue to honor the Autumnal Equinox. For example, Japanese Buddhists celebrate Ohigan, a period when Shin Buddhists believe the barrier between the physical and spiritual worlds becomes thinner. Ohigan, which coincides with the equinox, is a time for spiritual reflection and visiting ancestral graves. Shin Buddhists believe that the afterlife lies in the direction of the setting sun, and the equinox represents a moment of perfect balance. During Ohigan, Ancestors are honored with offerings of food, flowers, and incense at gravesites and by cleaning gravestones.
In modern neopagan traditions, the Autumnal Equinox is celebrated as Mabon, a festival with roots in ancient Celtic harvest traditions. Although Mabon as a named celebration is relatively recent, it embodies the long-standing themes of gratitude for the harvest and preparation for the winter months. Participants often celebrate by sharing a feast, giving thanks, and making offerings to deities associated with the harvest.
Although equinox celebrations vary across cultures, they share common themes of gratitude, reflection, and connection to nature. As we transition into fall, it’s the perfect time to gather with loved ones, share a meal, reflect on the year, and prepare for the changing seasons. You can also reconnect to nature in your own way – whether it’s biking along the Kickapoo Rail Trail, fishing in the ponds, lakes, and rivers throughout the county, or picnicking at one of Champaign County’s seven forest preserves. To discover more activities at the Champaign County Forest Preserves, visit https://www.champaignforests.org.
Image source: The History Hub.