Today is the Autumnal Equinox

Today, Sept. 23, 2019, is the autumnal equinox, reports National Day Calendar.  As September ushers in a change of season, the autumnal equinox is observed annually when the sun can be seen directly overhead along the equator. The day marks the end of summer and beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.  The autumn equinox is one of two days when all points on Earth, except the polar regions, see the sunrise and set at due east and due west. With few exceptions, all latitudes see almost precisely 12 hours of daylight and 12 of darkness.  While the United States marks the official end of summer at Labor Day, the seasons mark time differently. Depending on where we live, the trees and animals behave differently based on the amount of sunlight they receive. By the time the equinox arrives in September, the leaves in many parts of the country have already begun to change. The air at night is crisper.  People’s minds begin to think about warmer clothes and preparing their homes for winter. Since children are already in school, most summer activities have ended. In the fields, farmers eagerly watch for the opportune time to harvest. Apples, pumpkins, and root vegetables ripen in the orchards and gardens. On cool evenings, long walks along the trails under the canopies of gold, umber, violet and crimson keep us warm.  There are over 1,500 national days, don’t miss a single one by visiting National Day Calendar®!