Ushering In the Autumn Equinox

Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at promptly 2:21pm, the sun crossed the celestial equator and we welcomed autumn to Southern Illinois!  Fall time is always an exciting time here at Providence Prairie!  We've been planning all year and working hard "putting by" for the winter.  We've frozen, canned, dried and stored a plethora of harvested provisions for colder weather. The fall equinox confirms that cooler weather is coming, and winter is on its way.

Our day had a delightful crispness in the air- ideal for welcoming the change of season.  Summer attire was not called for! After cleaning and decorating the house for fall time, we enjoyed a pleasant fire in the evening coolness. 

Ever wonder why some years the autumnal equinox is on one day and another year finds it a day later?  It's due to the difference between our Gregorian calendar year of 365 days and the actual time it takes the sun to circuit the earth of 365 ¼ days.  Each subsequent autumnal equinox falls about six hours later than the one before it. That means we should mark our calendars for 8:21pm for 2022.  It seems like I remember it always falling on the 21st when I was growing up, but after a little research, I was surprised to find that it hasn't happened on the 21st for several millennia.  Since Noah wasn't my contemporary, I don't think it has happened in my lifetime!  But we can look forward to 2092 and 2096 where it will fall on the 21st once again!  I don't think I will see those either!

“Equinox” actually comes from the Latin for equal and night.  It is one of two times each year when day and night are very close to twelve hours each.  The second time each year is of course, the vernal or spring equinox.

It is said that the aurora borealis is more often seen during the equinoxes.  This is due to the geomagnetic activity being twice as likely to take place during these periods.  We're certainly going to be on the lookout.  We've seen the northern lights once before here at Providence Prairie, and it was such a breathtaking experience!  We're certainly going to be scrutinizing the evening skies again!

As Fall time is officially here now, it’s time to pull out those cozy sweaters and comfy fall time clothes to meet the autumn.  The leaves are changing, the goldenrod is in full bloom, the birds are gathering to migrate, and we are ready for whatever God has in store.

~Rhonda