Autumn equinox 2021 秋分 Qiūfēn

What is the September Equinox?

The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere
The September equinox, also called southward equinox, is the moment in time (not a day-long event) when the Sun stands directly above the equator while crossing from the north to the south. For the Northern Hemisphere (where nearly 90% of the world's population live) it is the autumnal equinox (fall equinox) as it is the moment when summer ends and autumn (fall) begins, while for the Southern Hemisphere it is the vernal equinox (spring equinox), the moment when winter ends and spring begins. Up until the September equinox the Sun rises and sets more to the north of the equator, and afterwards it rises and sets more to the south.

The September equinox usually occurs every year on September 21 to 23. Very occasionally it can also fall on September 21 or 24. The dates given on this page are based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which for practical purposes is equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). While the September equinox occurs at the same moment in time all over the world, the date and local time differ from place to place depending on the year and a location's time zone. For locations that are ahead of UTC (further east) it may fall on the day after, and for locations that are behind UTC (further west) it may fall on the day before. To find out the exact date and time of the September equinox 2019 in your area use this seasons calculator.

The September equinox is one of four days (two equinoxes and two solstices) throughout the year that mark the beginning of a new season. The other days are the March equinox, the June solstice and the December solstice.

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Zhong Qiu Jie 中秋节 Mooncake Festival 2021

Taking place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, this festival is sometimes referred to as 'Lantern Festival' (not to be confused with the Lantern Festival which ends Chinese New Year) or 'Mooncake Festival' in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, due to the integral part moon cakes play in the festival.

It commemorates the 14th-century revolution led by Yuan Zhang, who smuggled notes inside moon cakes and used lighted lanterns as a signal to launch the revolt. One of the highlights of the festival is the Moon Cake Fair, where hundreds of festive stalls line the streets of Chinatown selling an astonishing variety of moon cakes, traditional paper lanterns, decorations and other delicacies. Children parade down the streets with their brightly lit lanterns in the Children's Lantern Procession. The Chinese Garden becomes a fairyland of lights and colours for the Lantern Festival, and there is also a range of cultural shows and performances including lion and dragon dancing, Chinese instrumentalists and craftsmen.

In fact, with far too much festivity for one day, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a month-long celebration in Singapore and a great period in which to visit the city.

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Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节

One of the loveliest Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore is about celebration with the family, lantern processions and oh-so-sweet mooncakes.

The cute biscuits shaped like piglets encased in little baskets are actually made of the same dough as traditional mooncakes. Initially, they were the result of bakers testing oven temperatures on plain pastry but became so popular that they are now a staple in their own right.

Marking the end of the autumn harvest, the Mid-Autumn Festival was traditionally a time to give thanks to the gods.

It is also a time of year that the moon is at its brightest, which is why lunar legends have always been attached to the celebration. Notably, the story of Chang Er, the wife of a merciless king who downed the elixir of immortality he had intended to drink, to save her people from his tyrannical rule.

The tale goes that she ascended to the moon after that, and has been worshipped by the Chinese as a Moon Goddess ever since.

When dusk falls
Since the Mid-Autumn Festival is about lunar appreciation, celebrations go into full swing once the sun goes down.

Moon-viewing parties are a popular way to enjoy the occasion, as family and friends sit in gardens lit by the soft glow of paper lanterns, sip tea, nibble on mooncakes, and if so inspired, compose poetry in venerable Tang Dynasty fashion.

Lanterns all a-glow
Children love this festival because they get to tote lanterns.

The traditional opt for those lighted by wax candles – elegant paper versions or more elaborate multi-hued cellophane and wire structures shaped into everything from cars to cartoon characters.

There are also unfortunately, plastic battery-operated music-emitting versions – but to each his own.

You’ll get to examine the real thing up close at some of the celebrations around the island, particularly in Chinatown where large beautiful lanterns will be on display – marvels of creativity, artistry and traditional craftsmanship. You’ll also get to sample mooncakes and fine teas at the street bazaars, watch nightly performances and peek at lantern-painting competitions.

Did you know?
The cute biscuits shaped like piglets encased in little baskets are actually made of the same dough as traditional mooncakes. Initially, they were the result of bakers testing oven temperatures on plain pastry but became so popular that they are now a staple in their own right.

Mad about mooncakes
Without a doubt, mooncakes are the main highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Legend has it that they helped to free Yuan China from Mongol rule, after rebels organised an uprising by passing messages hidden in these seasonal sweets. Today, you’ll find them in many varieties, from the traditional with lotus seed paste and egg yolk, to snowskin versions filled with everything from chocolate to champagne truffle. They are best enjoyed with a strong, palate-cleansing cup of Chinese tea.

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Moon cake: Traditional dessert during China's Mid-Autumn Festival

A baker makes moon cakes at a bakery in the Tangqi ancient town in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 29, 2017.

Moon cake is Chinese people's traditional dessert during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, or Oct. 4 this year.

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Mooncake is a symbol of family reunion for its round shape.

Pomelo is not only round in shape, its Chinese name, you zi, is also a homophone for words that mean "bless the son."

The tradition of eating taro on Mid-Autumn Festival dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) but the meaning of eating taro differs from different Chinese regions. One of them believes that eating taro during Mid-Autumn Festival can ward off the evil spirits.

Water Caltrop - A Kind of Nut Boiled and Eaten with Mooncakes

The Sacred Riana: America's Got Talent

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The Great Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642)

Galileo's Inquisition of 1633 and the events leading to it, (commonly known as the Galileo Affair) is probably the best example we have pertaining to basic problems in cultural and interdisciplinary thinking on the question of relationship between science and religion. In historical context, it can be seen that the Catholic church of Galileo's time was not merely a religious institution - it also played important social and political functions.

Strictly speaking, to view the whole Galileo Affair in perspective, we cannot focus merely on the scientific and religious aspects alone but also on other aspects covering the epistemological, philosophical, social and political viewpoints. It is beyond the scope of this paper to cover all aspects of the affair, so here we concentrate mainly on the scientific and religious aspects which are undoubtedly of the most significance and importance in astronomical history.

Galileo's problems with the church relates intimately with his support of the Copernican theory. As such, it is necessary to understand how Copernicus had challenged traditional ideas at that time to appreciate the basis of how Galilean science came into direct conflict with the bible and religion.

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3 Ways You May Be Spoiling Your Teens

Without Even Realizing it

These days, parenting is more focused on making sure our kids are happy than in past generations. Though this may not necessarily be a bad thing, the result is that teens are insecure and anxious, despite our attempts in giving them everything from freedom to positive reinforcement. The reason for this being is that teens aren’t prepared to deal with how life flows, or understand the concept of being okay with delayed gratifications. Here are some ways you may be spoiling your kid without even knowing it:

• The Significance of Homework - More than learning things that may (or may not) be important in their daily lives, the practice of doing homework helps teens develop a strong work ethic and introduces a habit of self-discipline. Teens need to understand that they may not use these equations in life, but that the skill of learning to turn their attention to something boring for a significant period is crucial.
• You Allow Them to Miss Family Activities - It’s essential to ask your teen to participate in family gatherings. Whether it’s a trip to see an extended family member or a family getaway. Participating in family events asserts the primary social connection, which means that how teens understand the importance of being part of a family, a lasting bond, will help them with other relationships in life.
• They Aren’t Taught to Save Money - Though this may seem a little far-fetched, teaching teens to set aside a small sum of money teaches them delayed gratification. Whether it is money from jobs, gifts from relatives, or their allowance, putting a little bit aside each month (or whatever time frame works best for your family) teaches prioritizing, self-restraint, and even planning ahead!

related: This Mother-Daughter Bucket List Is Everything

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