September, the month of equinox

by Sumana Saparamadu

September is an important month for the whole world. On September 23 the Sun is directly over the equator. This happens only on two days in the year - on September 23 and March 21. These two days are called equinox. On these two days, night and day are of equal length.

September 23 is called "autumnal equinox" as it marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. It marks the beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere.

March 21 is the "vernal equinox" marking the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. It is the beginning of autumn in the southern hemisphere.

These two days - March 21 and September 23 - do not shift like the days of the full moon. The days of equinox are the same year in, year out.

The new school year in England and other countries north of the Tropic of Cancer begins in September after the long summer vacation.

September is "Sahitya month" in Sri Lnaka and outstanding literary works in all three languages and for both adults and children are awarded prizes.

Birthdays

Anagarika Dharmapala, the great Buddhist leader, one of the pioneers in the revival of Buddhism after many years of neglect under the Portuguese, Dutch and British, was born on September 17, 1864. J.R. Jayewardene, the first Executive President of Sri Lanka was also born on September 17, 52 years later in 1906.

Another outstanding Sri Lankan whose birthday is on September 15, William Gopallawa, the last Governor-General of Ceylon and the first President of the Republic of Sri Lanka.

September means 7th from the Latin Septem. It was the 7th month of the ancient Roman calendar. When Julius Caesar changed the calendar, adding two months at the beginning it became the 9th but it continued to be called September.

Every month upto June is named after a Roman god or goddess and July and August are named in honour of Julius and Augustus Caesar. The order stops with August. The reasons not known.

The last four months are continued to be called by the old names which means 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th although they are now the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th months.