..    SEPTEMBER EQUINOX  ..       An equinox occurs when the center of the Sun is in the same plane as the Earth's equator,  when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun.     There are two Equinoxes,   a Vernal Equinox (vernal is Latin for "spring") and an Autumnal Equinox.     The Vernal equinox occurs around March 20th in the Northern Hemisphere   and around September 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere.     The Autumnal Equinox occurs around September 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere   and around March 20th in the Southern Hemisphere.     The Equinox in March is often referred to as the March Equinox   or Northward Equinox   while the Equinox in September is often called the September Equinox  or Southward Equinox to avoid the confusion of dates.         Translated from Latin,   equinox means "equal night."     Because the fact that the Sun is positioned above the equator,   day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes.     Those two days are the only times during the year when the sunrise is due east and the sunset is due west.     The Equinoxes occur because of the 23.4 degree tilt of the Earth's axis.     Due to the tilt,   we receive the Sun's rays most dirctly in the summer.     In the winter,   when we are tilted away from the Sun,   the rays pass through the atmosphere at a greater slant,   bringing lower temperatures.         The Equinox is important in Religion.     In Christianity ..       Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.     Jewish Passover usually falls on the first full moon after the Northern Hemisphere vernal equinox ..       Early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the vernal equinox ..       The first day of spring also marks the beginning of Nowruz, the Persian New Year ..       The celebration lasts 13 days and is based on the 3,000-year-old tradition of Zorastrianism.     Stonehenge (Celtic) in England also marks the position of the rising sun on the vernal equinox ..           ..    SEPTEMBER EQUINOX CELEBRATIONS  ..       Chuseok (Korea),   is celebrated around the Autumn Equinox.     It is a three-day holiday and major harvest festival ..           Autumnal Equinox Day (Japan),   occurs on the September Equinox ..           The Mid-Autumn Festival (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan),   is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month,   usually near the Autumnal Equinox Day.     It is an official holiday in mainland China,   Hong Kong,   Taiwan and in areas with a sizeale Chinese population.     Because this holiday is based on the Gregorian calender,   it can vary from mid-September to early-October ..   ..   ..           Jashne Mihragan (Iran, Zoroastrianism),   occurs on the Southward equinox,   It is the first day of Mehr  or Libra  in the Iranian calendar,   and the festival of sharing or love in Zoroastrianism ..   ..           Harvest Festival (United Kingdom) is celebrated on the Sunday of the full moon closest to the September equinox ..           New Year's Day (French Republican Calender) occured on the Southward equinox           During the time of the September Equinox,   Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate the Autumnal Equinox with the festivals of Alban Elfed,   Mabon,   Foghar,   Harvest Home, Second Harvest,   Fruit Harvest,   Wine Harvest,   or Gŵyl Ganol yr Hydref.         At the same time Pagans in the Southern Hemisphere  Celebrate the Vernal Equinox with festivals of   Ostara,   Earrach,   Alban Eilir,   the Festival of Trees,   Lady Day,   Dísablót (Norse paganism),   or Gŵyl Ganol y Gwanwyn.