Autumnal Equinox, a solar term which divides autumn in half, falls on September 23 this year. Autumnal Equinox is accompanied by the occasional melancholy when people see colorful flowers fade and wither as part of the law of nature. Its arrival tells a bleak tale of longer chilly nights.
For farmers, though, autumnal equinox means harvest and happiness, when a year’s hard work finally pays off. In some remote areas, some people are still holding sacrificial activities on the day of Autumn Equinox praying for a good harvest. Autumn Equinox has been set up as China’s Harvest Festival since 2018, according to the State Council.
In ancient times, each solar term was divided into three “climates”, and each climate lasts five days. The first climate of Autumn Equinox signals less lightning compared to the monsoon season in late summer. During the second climate, insects will seal the entrance to their nests with soil to keep cold air out. The last climate of autumnal equinox indicates a time when marshes start to dry up due to reduced rainfall and quickly evaporating water.
bgm: Leaning On the Everlasting Arms - Zachariah Hickman
Read by Pan Huirui and Zou Minghao
To Autumn
by William Blake
O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayst rest,
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.
The narrow bud opens her beauties to
The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
Blossoms hang round the brows of Morning, and
Flourish down the bright cheek of modest Eve,
Till clust'ring Summer breaks forth into singing,
And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.
The spirits of the air live on the smells
Of fruit; and Joy, with pinions light, roves round
The gardens, or sits singing in the trees.
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.
