What does the autumnal equinox mean?

The autumnal equinox is one of the traditional 24 solar terms in China, usually on September 22nd or 23rd of the Gregorian calendar every year.

The name of this solar term comes from the lunar calendar in China, which means to divide day and night equally. "Spring and Autumn Stories Yin and Yang in and out" said: "The autumn equinox, Yin and Yang are also half-phase, so it is cold and summer day and night." The autumnal equinox means "half"

The autumnal equinox is the turning point in autumn. The temperature drops gradually and the weather begins to get cold. After the autumnal equinox, the sunshine time in the northern hemisphere gradually decreased, the days became shorter and shorter, the nights became longer and longer, and the temperature gradually decreased. In China, people usually regard the autumnal equinox as the beginning of autumn, which marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

The autumnal equinox plays an important role in the traditional culture of China. People often hold sacrifices and enjoy the moon on the autumn equinox to celebrate the harvest season. In addition, farmers in China often hold a series of activities related to agriculture around the autumnal equinox, such as harvesting rice and drying grain.

The significance of autumnal equinox in traditional festivals in China;

1, Harvest Festival: The autumn equinox season is the time of autumn harvest. At this time, the crops gradually matured and the farmers were busy with farming. As a harvest festival, people will hold various activities to celebrate the harvest, such as holding temple fairs, dancing, singing and theatrical performances, to express their gratitude to nature and ancestors, and to pray for a bumper harvest and happiness in the coming year.

2. Mid-Autumn Festival: The autumnal equinox is an important moment of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In ancient China, people thought that the moon was one of the most beautiful things between heaven and earth, so they would hold a ceremony of offering sacrifices to the moon in the autumn equinox to thank the moon for its gifts and blessings. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will also enjoy the moon, eat moon cakes and enjoy osmanthus. These activities not only express reverence for the moon, but also place people's expectations and blessings on family, health, happiness and peace.

3. Respect for the elderly: In some areas of China, the autumnal equinox is still a respect for the elderly. People will hold various celebrations for the elderly on this day to show their respect and concern. During the festival of respect for the elderly, people will prepare rich banquets, performances and gifts for the elderly, and organize various cultural activities and entertainment programs to make the elderly feel the warmth and care of society.

4. Worship of celestial bodies: As a time divided equally between day and night, the autumnal equinox also reflects China people's reverence for celestial bodies. In ancient China, people thought that the change of astronomical phenomena was closely related to the rise and fall of the country, so they would observe astronomical phenomena on the day of the autumnal equinox and predict the good or ill luck in the future. At the same time, the autumnal equinox is also an important moment to worship the sky, and people will sacrifice to the sky to express their respect and gratitude to the sky.