The Autumnal Equinox is an astronomical event that occurs each year in the fall season. It marks the point in time when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. This event usually happens around September 22nd or 23rd in the northern hemisphere, and around March 20th or 21st in the southern hemisphere.

During the Autumnal Equinox, day and night are approximately of equal length all over the world. This is because the Earth's axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun at this time, resulting in equal amounts of daylight and darkness.

After the Autumnal Equinox in the northern hemisphere, days start to become shorter, and nights become longer as the hemisphere tilts away from the Sun. This marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. Conversely, in the southern hemisphere, the Spring Equinox occurs at the same time, marking the beginning of spring and the lengthening of days as the hemisphere tilts towards the Sun.

Culturally and historically, the Autumnal Equinox has been celebrated in various ways by different societies and cultures, often as a time of harvest festivals, gratitude, and preparation for the colder months ahead.

Astrological perspective

In astrology, the Autumnal Equinox holds significance as it marks the entry of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Libra. Libra is a Cardinal sign, which signifies initiation, leadership, and action. Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) mark the beginning of seasons, and Libra heralds the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Libra is associated with the pursuit of balance and harmony in relationships and life. It is ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and aesthetics. This sign seeks fairness, justice, and cooperation.

The Autumnal Equinox represents a shift in energy from the active, outward-focused energy of summer to the more introspective, inward-focused energy of fall. As the Sun moves into Libra, there is an emphasis on seeking balance and harmony in all areas of life, particularly in relationships and partnerships.

The Autumnal Equinox is also seen as a time of reflection and evaluation. It's a time to assess our goals and priorities as we prepare for the darker, colder months ahead. Libra's influence encourages us to consider how we can create more balance and fairness in our lives, both personally and collectively.

Various celebrations and traditions associated with the Spring Equinox

Here is a list of various celebrations and traditions associated with the Autumn Equinox from cultures around the world:

• Chuseok (Koreans)

  Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving, is a major harvest festival celebrated in Korea. It typically occurs around the Autumn Equinox and involves ancestral rituals, feasting, and the sharing of food with family and friends.

• Dozhinki (Slavic community)

  Dozhinki is a Slavic harvest festival celebrated around the Autumn Equinox. It involves parades, traditional folk music and dance, and feasting on freshly harvested foods to give thanks for the harvest and prosperity.

• Mehregan (Zoroastrian/Iranian/Persian)

  Mehregan or Jashn-e Mehr is an ancient Iranian festival celebrated to honor the Mithraic god Mehr (Mithra), who represents friendship, love, and justice. It is observed around the Autumnal Equinox and involves feasting, dancing, and giving thanks for the harvest and abundance.

• Lugnasadh (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man)

  Lugnasadh, also known as Lammas, is a Gaelic festival celebrated between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. It involves games, fairs, and competitions, as well as rituals honoring the god Lugh and giving thanks for the harvest.

• Mabon (Neopagan community)

  Mabon is a modern Pagan festival celebrated around the Autumn Equinox to honor the harvest and the balance between light and darkness. It involves rituals, feasting, and giving thanks for the abundance of the harvest.

• Miķeļi (Latvia)

  Miķeļi is a Latvian harvest festival celebrated around the Autumn Equinox. It involves traditional folk dances, singing, and feasting to give thanks for the harvest and to welcome the approaching winter season.

• Mooncake Festival (Chinese community)

  The Mooncake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated around the Autumn Equinox. It involves family gatherings, the consumption of mooncakes, and admiring the full moon, symbolizing unity and abundance.

• Rosh Hashanah (Jewish community)

  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, occurs around the Autumnal Equinox. It is a time of reflection, prayer, and repentance, as well as joyous celebration and feasting to mark the beginning of the High Holy Days.

• Shūbun no hi (Japanese community)

  Shūbun no hi, also known as the Autumnal Equinox Day, is a public holiday in Japan observed around the Autumnal Equinox. It is a time for families to visit the graves of their ancestors and pay respects, as well as to appreciate the changing colors of autumn foliage.

• Tsukimi (Japanese community)

  Tsukimi, or Otsukimi, is a Japanese harvest festival celebrated around the Autumnal Equinox to give thanks for the harvest and pray for good fortune. It involves admiring the full moon, enjoying seasonal foods, and making offerings to the moon.

Chuseok (Korean: 추석; Hanja: 秋夕; lit. 'autumn evening'), also known as Hangawi (한가위; from Old Korean, "the great middle [of autumn]"), also known as Huseok or Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the most significant and widely celebrated holidays in South (3 days) and North Korea (1 day). It typically falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, which usually corresponds to September in the Gregorian calendar.

The origins of Huseok can be traced back to ancient agricultural rites and harvest festivals practiced in Korea for thousands of years. It is deeply rooted in the agrarian society of Korea, where the harvest was a crucial event, marking the culmination of months of hard work in the fields. Numerous scholars theorize that Chuseok could trace its roots back to ancient shamanistic rituals venerating the harvest moon. It's believed that offerings of new harvests were made to local deities and ancestors, suggesting that Chuseok possibly evolved from a form of worship ceremony. In regions where harvests fail, worship rituals are often delayed, and in locales devoid of annual harvests, Chuseok might not be observed at all.

The holiday carries both Confucian and Buddhist traditions. Confucian rituals during Chuseok often involve ancestor worship called Charye (Korean: 차례; Hanja: 茶禮, ancestor memorial services at home, also known as Jesa), where families pay respects to their deceased ancestors by visiting their graves and cleaning the burial sites called Seongmyo (Korean: 성묘; Hanja: 省墓, family visit to the ancestral graves), which is usually accompanied by Beolcho (Korean: 벌초; Hanja: 伐草, tidying graves, removing weeds around them), and offering food and drink as a sign of reverence. It's a time for families to come together, honoring their ancestors and strengthening familial bonds. Buddhist traditions during Chuseok focus on paying homage to monks and giving thanks for their teachings. Temples hold ceremonies and rituals, and people may visit temples to participate in these events and make offerings.

Modern-day Chuseok celebrations blend traditional customs with contemporary practices. Families gather from far and wide to spend time together, often traveling long distances to reunite with relatives. It's a time for feasting on traditional foods like songpyeon and hangwa and also enjoy cultural performances such as traditional dances and games.

Songpyeon (Hangul: 송편; 松餠) are rice cakes filled with sesame seeds, red beans, or chestnuts. Songpyeon holds significance not only in its taste but also in its symbolic shape. While some are spherical, most have a distinct half-moon shape. The rice dough itself resembles a full moon, but when filled and sealed, it takes on the appearance of a half-moon. This shape carries historical and cultural weight, rooted in a legend from the Three Kingdoms era of Korean history. According to this legend, the shapes of songpyeon symbolize the destinies of two rival kingdoms, Baekje and Silla. An encrypted message discovered on a turtle's back during the reign of King Uija of Baekje foretold the fall of Baekje and the ascent of Silla, with Baekje represented by the full moon and Silla by the half-moon. This prophecy was realized when Silla triumphed over Baekje. Since then, the half-moon shape has been regarded as a harbinger of prosperity and victory. During Chuseok, a Korean holiday, families come together to enjoy songpyeon beneath the full moon, expressing hopes for a brighter future. There is a belief that the preparation of a beautiful songpyeon holds significance beyond tradition: unmarried women who craft exquisite songpyeon may find an ideal spouse, while pregnant women who do the same are believed to give birth to beautiful daughters.

Hangwa (Korean: 한과; Hanja: 韓菓), also known as Hang, is made with rice flour, honey, fruit, and roots. The most famous types of hangwa are yakgwa, yugwa, and dasik. Yakgwa is a sweet honey cookie which is made of fried rice flour dough ball and yugwa is a fried cookie consisting of glutinous rice mixed with honey water, and cheongju (rice wine). Dasik is a tea cake that people enjoy with tea.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional customs and practices, leading to a renewed emphasis on the cultural significance of Chuseok. However, like many holidays around the world, Chuseok has also evolved to accommodate modern lifestyles, with some families incorporating travel, leisure activities, and gift-giving into their celebrations. Nevertheless, the core values of gratitude, family, and tradition remain central to the spirit of Chuseok.

Dozhinki (Ukrainian: Обжинки, romanized: Obzhynky, Polish: Dożynki, Russian: Обжинки, romanized: Obzhynki; Belarusian: Дажынкі, Prachystaya; Czech: Dožínky, Obžinky; Kashubian: Òżniwinë; Dormition) is a traditional Slavic harvest festival that celebrates the culmination of the agricultural season and gives thanks for the harvest. The word "Dozhinki" itself comes from the Polish word "dożynki," which means "harvest home." The feast was initially associated with the pagan Slavic cult of plants, trees and agriculture. The festival is deeply rooted in Slavic culture and has been celebrated for centuries, dating back to pagan times.

The origins of Dozhinki can be traced back to pre-Christian Slavic traditions, where communities would gather to give thanks to the gods for a successful harvest. These celebrations often included rituals, songs, dances, and feasting to honor the deities and ensure fertility and abundance for future harvests.

While there are many regional varieties and traditions, there are common elements shared by most Dozhinki celebrations. Typically, peasants or farmers come together to celebrate in the fields adjacent to their village. They organize a procession, often retrieving a sheaf or the final harvest of cereal from nearby fields. Following this gathering, the women transform the harvested crop into a wreath, which they then present to the guest of honor. This distinguished individual is typically the organizer of the festivities, which could be a local noble, the wealthiest farmer in the village, or in contemporary times, a wójt or other representative of the authorities. The wreath is a central feature of most celebrations associated with Dozhinki, as it symbolises a rich harvest, the prospect of wealth and the power of new life vested in the grain gathered during the summer. Originally the wreath was in fact a decorated sheaf of grain, decorated with field flowers, ribbons and braided straws. Such wreaths were still being made in Poland in the 1930s.

Originally the pre-Christian rite was performed on the autumn equinox, on 23rd of September. With the spread of Christianity, Dozhinki became associated with the Christian calendar, often coinciding with the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15th or the feast of St. Michael the Archangel on September 29th.

Today, Dozhinki is celebrated throughout Slavic communities around the world. Almost lost in Russia at the Soviet period, in the post-Soviet period, this folk tradition in some countries has been recreated as an official holiday. The festival typically takes place in late summer or early autumn when the harvest season is in full swing. It is a joyful and colorful event that brings together families, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the fruits of their labor.

During Dozhinki, villages and towns are adorned with traditional decorations such as wreaths, ribbons, and sheaves of wheat or rye. There are often parades featuring folk costumes, decorated carts, and floats adorned with agricultural produce. Churches hold special Masses to give thanks for the harvest, and blessings are bestowed upon farmers, their crops, and livestock.

One of the central elements of Dozhinki is the symbolic cutting of the first sheaf of grain, known as the "bartek" or "bartnik." This ritual, often accompanied by prayers and songs, marks the beginning of the harvest festivities. The harvested grains are then used to make traditional foods such as bread, cakes, and pierogi, which are shared among the community during feasts and celebrations.

Mehregan (Persian: مهرگان) or Jashn-e Mehr (جشن مهر lit. Mithra Festival), is an ancient Zoroastrian / Iranian / Persian festival that celebrates the harvest season and the principle of Mehr, to honor the yazata Mithra, which is responsible for friendship, affection and love.

The origins of Mehregan can be traced back to pre-Islamic Persia, where it was celebrated as one of the most important festivals of the year. It was a time to give thanks for the harvest and to honor the goddess Mehr, who symbolized the sun and light, as well as fertility and abundance. Under the Sasanian Empire (224–651), Mehregan was the second most important festival, falling behind Nowruz (spring equinox).

In al-Biruni's eleventh-century Book of Instructions in the Elements of the Art of Astrology (233), the astronomer observed that "some people have given the preference to Mihragān [over Nowruz, i.e. New Year's day/Spring Equinox] by as much as they prefer autumn to spring."

The festival was traditionally observed on the 16th day of the Persian month of Mehr (مهر; Pahlavi Middle Persian: Mihr; Avestan name of the Yazata: Miθrahe; eng. "Covenant"), which usually falls around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. It marked the beginning of autumn and was a time when farmers would gather their crops and prepare for the winter months ahead.

One of the central rituals of Mehregan was the lighting of bonfires, which symbolized the warmth and light of the sun. People would gather around the fires to socialize, sing songs, and exchange gifts as a sign of goodwill and friendship. During Mehregan, people would decorate their homes and public spaces with flowers, fruits, and colorful fabrics. Feasts were held where families and communities would come together to share food, music, and dance. Traditional dishes such as rice with saffron, kebabs, and various types of sweets were prepared and enjoyed during the festivities.

After the Mongol invasion of Iran, the feast celebration of Mehrgān lost its popularity. Zoroastrians of Yazd and Kermān continued to celebrate Mehrgān in an extravagant way. With the spread of Islam in Persia, many pre-Islamic festivals, including Mehregan, underwent changes or were replaced by Islamic celebrations. However, Mehregan has persisted as a cultural tradition in Iran and among Persian communities around the world.

Today, Mehregan is celebrated in Iran and by Iranians living abroad as a cultural event that highlights the rich heritage and traditions of Persian culture. There are series of ceremonies conducted across Iran. These ceremonies were involved in the provinces of Tehran, Yazd, Kordestan, West Azerbaijan, Zanjan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Isfahan, Bushehr, North Khorasan, and Golestan. While the festival may have evolved over time, its underlying themes of gratitude, love, and community remain central to the spirit of Mehregan.

Lughnasadh, Lughnasa or Lúnasa, is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. It is celebrated on August 1st in the Northern Hemisphere, halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox. The festival is named after the Irish god Lugh, who was associated with skill, craft, and the arts.

Lughnasadh has pagan origins and was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It corresponds to the Welsh Gŵyl Awst and the English Lammas. In the Middle Ages it involved great gatherings that included ceremonies, athletic contests (most notably the Tailteann Games), horse racing, feasting, matchmaking, and trading. Rituals would involve offerings for a successful harvest and prosperity for the coming year. One common tradition was the reaping of the first grain, which would be used to bake bread or make a special meal for the community. The religious rites included an offering of the "First Fruits" ("first fruits" is a religious offering of the first agricultural produce of the harvest), a feast of the new food, the sacrifice of a bull, and a ritual dance-play. Gatherings were typically held on top of hills and mountains.

In addition to its agricultural significance, Lughnasadh also had cultural and social importance. It was a time for matchmaking and courtship rituals, as well as competitions in sports, music, and storytelling. The festival provided an opportunity for people to strengthen bonds within their community and reaffirm their connection to the land and the cycles of nature.

The festival persisted widely until the 20th century, with the event being variously named Garland Sunday, Bilberry Sunday, Mountain Sunday and Crom Dubh Sunday. The tradition of climbing hills and mountains at Lughnasadh has survived in some areas, re-cast as a Christian pilgrimage. Today, Celtic neopagans still celebrate Lughnasadh, often with a focus on honoring the earth and the changing seasons. In some places, elements of the festival have been revived as a cultural event.

Mabon, also known as Harvest Home, Mabon, the Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair, An Clabhsúr, or Alban Elfed (in neo-druidry), is a modern pagan festival that celebrates the autumnal equinox, typically observed around September 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the eight annual Sabbats or festivals celebrated within the Wheel of the Year in modern pagan traditions such as Wicca and Druidry. It is a neopagan festival of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the Gods during the coming winter months.

The name "Mabon" is derived from Welsh mythology and refers to the Welsh hero Mabon ap Modron, who is associated with the harvest, rebirth, and the cycle of the seasons. In Welsh mythology, Mabon is said to be the divine son of Modron, the Great Mother goddess (Gaulish goddess Dea Matrona - "Great Mother"). His name is related to the Romano-British god Maponos, whose name means "Great Son".

The origins of Mabon as a modern pagan festival can be traced back to the revival of ancient Celtic and Druidic traditions in the 20th century, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Inspired by folklore, mythology, and historical practices, modern pagans have reconstructed and adapted rituals and celebrations to honor the changing seasons and the cycles of nature.

Mabon is observed as a time of balance. The festival is typically celebrated with rituals, ceremonies, and gatherings that emphasize themes of gratitude, balance, and reflection. Participants may gather in outdoor settings or sacred spaces to give thanks for the fruits of the harvest. Offerings of fruits, vegetables, grains, and other symbols of abundance may be presented as offerings to the gods or spirits. Mabon is often celebrated with communal feasts featuring seasonal foods such as apples, squash, pumpkins, grains, and nuts. Sharing food and drink with loved ones is a central aspect of the festival. Mabon is a time to acknowledge the balance between light and dark, day and night, and the changing seasons. Rituals may incorporate symbols such as the equilateral cross, representing the balance of opposites. Many pagans mark Mabon by spending time in nature, going for walks, or meditating outdoors. It is a time to connect with the natural world and to reflect on the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Mabon is a festival that celebrates the bounty of the earth, the beauty of the changing seasons, and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is a time of gratitude, reflection, and spiritual renewal for many modern pagans around the world.

Miķeļi or Miķeļdiena is a Latvian autumn equinox and annual harvest festival celebrated on September 29th. In different regions, the Miķeļi celebration was also called Mīkaļiem or Mīklāli, but it is also known to other households as Sila Miķelis, Miega Miķelis, and Miega Mača. According to an old calendar, this holiday is celebrated around autumn equinox time, around 21–23 September. The Latvian name of this holiday is Apjumības or Appļāvības.

Miķeļdiena name is derived from a name of an honorable Christian archangel Michael, whose day is celebrated during the autumn solstice time. In Latvian mythology, it gradually replaced a time to celebrate the autumn equinox of Apjumības or Appļāvības, which was the last harvest day, which with the help of magic rituals sought to ensure the success next year and to obtain the favor of Jumis.

Miķeļi has deep roots in pagan traditions. It originated as an agricultural festival, marking the end of the harvest season and the transition to autumn. Pagan beliefs centered around nature worship, seasonal changes, and rituals to ensure fertility and prosperity. A characteristic Miķeļdiena pagan ritual was finding Jumis, through which farmers sought to ensure the fertility of the fields in the coming year. The Miķeļi's house was considered to be pine forest's sandy soils, since he expressed his protection to gatherers of forest's riches.

With the spread of Christianity, Miķeļi became associated with the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. St. Michael, the archangel, symbolized protection and victory, blending seamlessly with pagan beliefs in warding off malevolent forces. Christian customs, such as church services and prayers to St. Michael, intertwined with pagan rituals, creating a syncretic celebration.

Today, Miķeļi is celebrated as a cultural and religious holiday in Latvia. While some aspects of the festival have evolved or been adapted, its essence remains rooted in agricultural and spiritual traditions. Communities come together to honor the land, give thanks for the harvest, and seek blessings for the coming year. Miķeļi serves as a reminder of Latvia's rich cultural heritage and the enduring connection between people, nature, and the seasons.

The Mooncake Festival (trad.: 中秋節; simpl.: 中秋节), also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, which usually falls in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. This festival has a rich history and is widely celebrated in many East Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The Mooncake Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess of Immortality in Chinese mythology. One version of the story is as follows:

Legend has it that there were ten suns in the sky in ancient times, scorching the earth and causing great suffering to the people. Hou Yi, a skilled archer, shot down nine of the suns, saving humanity from disaster. As a reward, he was given the elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother of the West. However, Hou Yi did not consume it immediately. Instead, he entrusted it to his wife, Chang'e, for safekeeping.

One day, Hou Yi was called away on official duties, and while he was gone, a covetous apprentice attempted to steal the elixir from Chang'e. To prevent him from obtaining it, Chang'e swallowed the elixir herself. Instead of granting her immortality, the elixir caused her to float up to the moon, where she became the Goddess of the Moon.

Upon his return and learning what had happened, Hou Yi was grief-stricken. To express his love and longing for his wife, he offered her favorite foods and fruits as sacrifices. The people, inspired by Hou Yi's love and mourning for Chang'e, began to offer sacrifices to the moon as well, and this tradition evolved into the Mooncake Festival.

The festival was a time to enjoy the successful reaping of rice and wheat with food offerings made in honor of the moon. Today, it is still an occasion for outdoor reunions among friends and relatives to eat mooncakes and watch the Moon, a symbol of harmony and unity. Similar to other major Chinese festivals, the Mooncake Festival is a time for family reunion. People gather with their loved ones to enjoy mooncakes, admire the beauty of the full moon, and spend quality time together. Admiring the full moon is an essential part of the festival. Families often organize outdoor activities like picnics or moon-gazing parties to enjoy the beauty of the full moon together. Traditional lanterns, often in the shape of animals or characters from folklore, are lit and displayed during the festival, adding to the festive atmosphere. Mooncakes are the quintessential food of the Mooncake Festival. These are round pastries filled with various fillings like lotus seed paste, red bean paste or salted egg yolks, symbolizing unity and completeness. They often have intricate designs on top and are shared among family and friends. The Mid-Autumn moon has traditionally been a choice occasion to celebrate marriages. Girls would pray to Moon deity Chang'e to help fulfill their romantic wishes. In some communities, dragon and lion dances are performed to entertain the crowds and bring good luck and prosperity. Various cultural performances, such as traditional Chinese music and dance, are often held during the festival to celebrate Chinese heritage and traditions.

Qiūfēn

Qiūfēn (秋分), meaning "Autumnal Equinox" in Chinese, is the 16th of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. On the day of Qiufen, the sun rays fall directly on the equator, and the lengths of day and night are equal again, the same as on the day of Chunfen. After this day, the sun is moving from the equator to the southern hemisphere, when day becomes shorter and night longer. It marks the middle of autumn and is a time for activities such as harvesting crops, making offerings to ancestors, and appreciating the changing seasons. As one saying goes, "autumn is colder with each rain".

In ancient times, sacrifices were offered to the moon on Qiufen (Autumn Equinox). Qiufen was originally the traditional festival to offer sacrifices to the moon, which was the predecessor of today's Mid-Autumn Festival.

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ של הַשָּׁנָה, literally "head of the year"), often referred to as the Jewish New Year, is one of the most significant and widely celebrated holidays in the Jewish calendar. Rosh is the Hebrew word for "head", ha is the definite article ("the"), and shana means year. Thus Rosh HaShanah means "head of the year", referring to the Jewish day of new year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (יוֹם התְּרוּעָה, lit. "day of shouting/blasting"). It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days (יָמִים נוֹרָאִים, lit. "Days of Awe"), that occur in the late summer/early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere.

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day observance and celebration that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year, according to the teachings of Judaism, and is the traditional anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve.

Rosh Hashanah begins a ten-day period of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals running through Sukkot and ending in Shemini Atzeret in Israel and in Simchat Torah everywhere else.

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֤ה לָכֶם֙ שַׁבָּת֔וֹן זִכְר֥וֹן תְּרוּעָ֖ה מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ:
כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה:

Translation:

" 23. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
24. Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first of the month, it shall be a Sabbath for you, a remembrance of [Israel through] the shofar blast a holy occasion.
25. You shall not perform any work of labor, and you shall offer up a fire offering to the Lord. "

The origin of Rosh Hashanah is connected to the beginning of the economic year in the agricultural societies of the ancient Near East. The New Year was the beginning of the cycle of sowing, growth, and harvest. The harvest was marked by its own set of major agricultural festivals. The Semites generally set the beginning of the new year in autumn.

While the Torah does not explicitly state the reasons for celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the holiday has come to be associated with themes of judgment, repentance, and the coronation of God as king.

The blowing of the shofar, a musical instrument made from an animal horn, is central to Rosh Hashanah observances and is believed to serve several purposes, including awakening individuals to repentance and reminding them of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Shofar is blown at various points during the Rosh Hashanah prayers, and it is customary in most communities to have a total of 100 blasts on each day except Shabbat.

INTRODUCTION TO SHOFAR SERVICE
In the Torah portion which is read on Rosh Hashanah, we read that God tested Abraham to see whether he would obey Him, even if He asked Abraham to offer the greatest sacrifice possible- his only son, Isaac. Abraham dramatically proved himself loyal and was prepared to carry out God’s wish. At the last moment, however, Abraham was commanded not to slay Isaac. Instead, he sacrificed a ram which was caught in the bushes by its horns. The ram’s horn is the Shofar which we sound today.
The Shofar, like all symbols, has many meanings. In the first place, it reminds us of Abraham’s extraordinary loyalty to God and his willingness to sacrifice for his beliefs. No beliefs are really important to us unless we are willing to make some sacrifice for them. To be sure, the episode of Abraham teaches us very pointedly that God does not want child sacrificea practice that was very common in heathen religions. However, though God does not want human sacrifices, we must be ready to sacrifice for that which makes us human.
The Shofar has another meaning, too. In ancient days when kings were crowned, the ceremony of coronation would include the blowing of the Shofar. On Rosh Hashanah, we proclaim the kingship of God. We reaffirm our will to serve Him and to obey His laws. In a sense, Rosh Hashanah is the day of God’s coronation; therefore, the Shofar is heard.
The Shofar has also been interpreted as a kind of signal or warning. Too frequently we forget our duties and our responsibilities. We become selfish and cruel. We neglect important tasks and concentrate on goals which are unworthy of us. The sounds of the Shofar are meant to shake us up or wake us up, to sound an alert, to remind us how we ought to live in the year that lies ahead.
As we listen to the sounds of the Shofar, may its meaning enter into our hearts and shape our actions in the days ahead.

On Rosh Hashanah day, religious poems called piyyutim, are added to the regular services. A piyyut or piyut (plural piyyutim or piyutim, Hebrew: פִּיּוּטִים / פיוטים, פִּיּוּט / פיוט; from Greek ποιητής poiētḗs "poet") is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited. The best-known piyyut may be Adon Olam ("Master of the World"). Another beloved piyyut is Yigdal ("May God be Hallowed").

A special prayer book, the machzor (plural machzorim), is used on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The word machzor means "cycle"; the root ח־ז־ר means "to return". A number of additions are made to the regular service, most notably an extended repetition of the Amidah prayer for both Shacharit and Mussaf.

Another significant custom is Tashlich, where individuals go to a body of water and symbolically cast away their sins by tossing pieces of bread into the water, representing a fresh start for the new year. Tashlich is usually performed on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. If the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, Tashlich is done on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. It may be performed throughout the 10 Days of Repentance, or even until Hoshanah Rabba (the last day of Sukkot), except on Shabbat. The goal of Tashlich is to cast both sins and the Heavenly prosecutor (a.k.a. the Satan) into the Heavenly sea.

Many Jewish families also gather for festive meals, where traditional foods such as apples dipped in honey symbolize hopes for a sweet and fruitful year ahead.

Rosh Hashanah holds deep religious and cultural significance for Jewish communities worldwide, serving as a time for spiritual renewal, communal gathering, and the reaffirmation of faith and tradition.

Sukkot

Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת) is a Torah-commanded Jewish festival. The names used in the Torah are "Festival of Ingathering" (or "Harvest Festival", Hebrew: חַג הָאָסִיף) and "Festival of Booths" (Hebrew: חג הסכות). Originally it was a harvest festival celebrating the autumn harvest. It is a week-long holiday that occurs in the fall, usually in September or October, following the Jewish calendar. Sukkot commemorates the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, during which they lived in temporary shelters or booths called sukkot.

The one mentioned in the Book of Exodus is agricultural in nature, "Festival of Ingathering at the year's end" (Exodus 34:22) and marks the end of the harvest time and thus of the agricultural year in the Land of Israel.

"22. You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest; and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year."

The more elaborate religious significance from the Book of Leviticus is that of commemorating the Exodus and the dependence of the Israelites on the will of God (Leviticus 23:42–43).

"41. You shall observe it as a festival of יהוה for seven days in the year; you shall observe it in the seventh month as a law for all time, throughout the ages. 42. You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, 43. in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt—I, your God יהוה."

During Sukkot, Jews build temporary structures called sukkahs (Hebrew: סוכה [suˈka]; plural, סוכות [suˈkot] sukkot or sukkos or sukkoth, often translated as "booth") in their yards or on balconies, where they eat meals and sometimes even sleep during the festival. These structures are typically made of wood or metal frames covered with branches, leaves, or other natural materials. The roof must be made of organic material such as bamboo or palm leaves and should provide enough shade to see the stars at night.

Observing Sukkot involves several rituals and traditions, including the waving of the lulav and etrog, which are bundles of palm, myrtle, and willow branches along with a citron fruit. The waving of the lulav and etrog is done in all directions to symbolize God's presence everywhere. Another custom is the recitation of special prayers and blessings, as well as eating festive meals in the sukkah.

Sukkot is a joyous holiday, often referred to as the "Season of Our Rejoicing" in Jewish tradition. It is a time for celebrating the harvest, expressing gratitude for nature's bounty, and reflecting on the transient nature of life. It is also a time for coming together as a community, as families and friends gather to share meals and celebrate together in the sukkah.

Yom Kippur

Shūbun no Hi (秋分の日), also known as the Autumnal Equinox Day, is a national holiday in Japan celebrated annually that usually occurs on September 22 or 23.

On this day, people will reconnect with their families by tending to the graves of ancestors and visiting shrines and temples. People also celebrate the good weather and autumn harvest by enjoying outdoor activities and eating Shūbun no Hi snacks such as botamochi (ぼたもち or 牡丹餅) – a ball of sweet rice in azuki paste (Japanese: 小豆 (アズキ), azuki, Uncommon アヅキ, adzuki).

Shūbun no Hi is designated as a national holiday in Japan, meaning schools, businesses, and government offices are closed. This allows people to spend time with family, engage in traditional rituals, or simply relax and enjoy the beginning of autumn.

Autumnal Equinox Day became a public holiday in 1948. In 1947 and before, it was the date of Shūki kōreisai (秋季皇霊祭), an event relating to Shinto. Like other holidays, this holiday was repackaged as a non-religious holiday for the sake of separation of religion and state in Japan's postwar constitution.