Fall Transitions
On the 22nd of this month, the September equinox marked the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Different cultures worldwide have different ways of honoring and celebrating the changing of the seasons. We will explore a few of them and their traditions in the hopes of drawing on them to inspire our own imaginations about what fall traditions can be in our own lives.
The ancient Greeks linked the transition into fall with the story of Persephone. Abducted by Hades from her mother, Demeter, the harvest goddess, she was taken to the underworld to marry Hades, the god of the underworld. Devoted to retrieving her daughter Demeter eventually was successful, but for only nine months of the year. During the other three months, Persephone returns to the underworld. During that time, Demeter refuses to use her skills to ensure plant growth. This is why the ancient Greeks believed winter arose.
Mayan culture speaks about the precise moment of the equinox when the Sun's light is directly on the equator. At the moment, the "snake of sunlight" slithers down the stairs of one of the main pyramids at Chichen Itza, Mexico. The temple's construction was based on astronomical calculations to determine the precise angle to build the staircase.
The Buddhists in Japan honor the September equinox and the March equinox by celebrating Higan. Meaning "other shore," Higan also refers to the spirits of the dead reaching Nirvana. During this period, the dead are remembered and honored by people when they visit, clean, and decorate their ancestors’ graves. Beginning in the Meiji period, both equinoxes have become national holidays.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, is celebrated by both Chinese and Vietnamese communities on the day of the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is considered to be the moon closest to the September equinox. During the festival, the summer harvest abundance is honored as people serve mooncakes filled with lotus, sesame seeds, a duck egg, or dried fruits.
As part of the Hindu culture, Navaratri is a several-day celebration that occurs in autumn to honor the divine feminine Devi (Durga). Traditionally celebrated in the first half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, it usually falls in the months of September and/or October.
These are some of the many traditions from around the world. Each one is beautiful, unique, and sacred. Traditions arise for a reason and continue to be a part of our lives in many different forms. Traditions are also represented during times like birthdays, holidays, graduations, funerals, and many others. They serve a purpose in our lives, like marking transitions and honoring them. They also become familiar and can give us meaning.
While the transition into the fall season is usually marked by back to school for some or by taking measures to change our settings for watering or switching our thermostats from air conditioning to heat, maybe instead try to invite some of the wisdom from the past into the present. We often rush right through transitions instead of slowing down to pay attention and can miss some of the lessons and beauty. Transition can bring with it loss, joy, uncertainty, opportunity to remember, and can invite space for the scared. This fall season, consider inviting tradition into your life, whether it be a new tradition that you begin with friends or family or whether you resurrect past cultural or familial traditions. Traditions can be fun, serious, playful, or reverent and everything in between as long as they mean something to you.
Multiple colors of leaves including yellow, green, red, and purple.
take action today moment:
Take some time to learn about some of your own family traditions and/or cultural traditions. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Craft and create your tradition or traditions. They do not have to be significant, lavish events. They can be simple and special. There really is no limitation to what your tradition can look like as long as it is safe and meaningful. For example, maybe you start a tradition of going to look at fall leaves every year, or you take a mindful walk along the river looking at the leaves. Or you can go find a festival happening in your neighborhood.