<p>At the autumn equinox, neo-druids and Arthurian friends gather at Stonehenge to perform rituals. Until the beginning of the new millennium, access to the monument itself was strictly prohibited. After long court battles, access to the monument is now granted during winter and summer solstices, and the spring and autumn equinox.</p>

At the autumn equinox, neo-druids and Arthurian friends gather at Stonehenge to perform rituals. Until the beginning of the new millennium, access to the monument itself was strictly prohibited. After long court battles, access to the monument is now granted during winter and summer solstices, and the spring and autumn equinox.

Photograph by Gerd Ludwig, National Geographic

See How the Fall Equinox Is Celebrated Around the World

From early-morning gatherings at Stonehenge to torch-bearing revelers parading through a city in Spain, people around the world herald the seasonal change in myriad ways.

As the autumn equinox approaches, days begin to shorten in the Northern Hemisphere, and people in countries around the world greet the change with elaborate celebrations and traditional rituals.

The fall equinox, which marks the transition from summer to autumn, occurs at the moment when day and night are roughly the same length. After the equinox, nights become increasingly longer than days—a pattern that reverses at the spring equinox. (Read More: The Autumn Equinox is Here! Wait, What's the Autumn Equinox?)

People have been honoring the equinox for centuries. The Druids in England and the Maya in Central America have long been observing this change of seasons, heralding its arrival as an indication of

Unlock this story for free
Create an account to read the full story and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles.

Unlock this story for free

Want the full story? Sign up to keep reading and unlock hundreds of Nat Geo articles for free.
Already have an account?
SIGN IN

Read This Next

What bacteria lurk in your city? Consult the bees.
Is melatonin giving you nightmares?
Why are these orcas killing sharks and removing their livers?

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet