Today is the first day of fall; days are getting shorter; "the autumnal (fall) equinox marks the turning point when darkness begins to win out over daylight."
It is precisely during this time of extended darkness that the Church year begins: Advent. During Advent, a time in the earth's season of deep darkness, we reflect upon the coming of the light of the world: Emmanuel, God with us, God's promise that light overcomes darkness, always, forever.
We are invited to use this time of shortening days to prepare ourselves for the beginning of a new Church year. It is no mistake, or happy coincidence, that the Church's calendar is in alignment with the movement of the earth within the cosmos, and the wisdom that nature holds within.
For places to go, to see Fall in Texas: go HERE
Of course in Missouri, Fall happens all around you!
(Tower Grove Park, St. Louis)
From the Farmer's Almanac
In mid-September each year, we greet the fall season with the arrival of the fall equinox (otherwise known as the autumnal equinox). This is the moment when the Sun crosses the Equator, and those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere will begin to see more darkness than daylight. Regardless of whether it has been chilly for weeks or there are still balmy summer-like temperatures, this is the start of astronomical fall. This is different from “meteorological fall,” which began on September 1st.
At this point, the Earth’s tilt is moving away from its maximum lean toward the Sun; its rays are aiming directly at the equator.
The autumnal (fall) equinox marks the turning point when darkness begins to win out over daylight. Essentially, our hours of daylight—the period of time each day between sunrise and sunset—have been growing slightly shorter each day since the summer solstice in June, which is the longest day of the year (at least in terms of daylight). Then, for the next three months, our hours of daylight will continue to grow shorter.
At the autumnal equinox, day and night are approximately equal in length. The name equinox comes from the Latin word aequus, meaning equal, and nox, meaning night. An equinox occurs twice a year (autumnal and vernal, or fall and spring).
Everywhere you look, you can see the visible changes as nature prepares for winter: birds are flying south, temperatures are getting cooler, leaves are changing colors, and animals’ coats are thickening, to name a few. But most significant is the change in daylight.
In mid-December, we will experience the winter solstice, which will mark the shortest day of the year in terms of hours of daylight.
After the winter solstice, the days will begin to grow longer again. It will take another three months until the vernal equinox (also called the spring equinox) for the periods of daylight and darkness to reach equilibrium once again.
From the vernal equinox, the days will continue to grow longer, until we reach the summer solstice again, and the whole cycle begins anew!
Read the complete article, HERE
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