Summer slowly gives way to a new season. The sky changes color, the days begin to get shorter and Nature enters a phase of transformation: the autumn equinox is arriving.
In 2026, fall will officially begin on September 23 at 2:05 a.m. ET. At the same time, in the southern hemisphere, the arrival of spring will be celebrated. Let’s discover the sporting meaning of the foliage season.
What does the autumnal equinox represent
Since ancient times, the autumnal equinox has been considered a moment of great symbolic significance. The transition from summer to the cold season represented a balance between light and darkness, a turning point in the natural cycle in which the time of expansion gave way to that of gathering and introspection. For many ancient civilizations this period was linked to harvest rites and the celebration of the fertility of the earth: it was the time to give thanks for the fruits obtained and prepare for the rest of the following months. In ancient Greece, for example, the myth of Persephone and her return to the underworld was associated with the change of seasons and the transformation of Nature. The Celtic peoples also celebrated Mabon in this period, a festival dedicated to balance, gratitude and abundance.
Beyond the different traditions, the autumn equinox represented a fundamental passage: an invitation to recognize that each phase of life has its own rhythm, that after growth comes the time of harvest and that even the darkest period can be necessary to prepare a new rebirth.
The rhythm of Nature as a lesson for us
The changing season reminds us of something we often forget: not everything has to grow continuously, and not every moment has to be productive. In autumn the trees drop their leaves, the seeds remain hidden in the earth, many animals slow down their activities. It is a natural process, necessary to face a new cycle.
For us too it can be an opportunity to recover a more sustainable rhythm, made up of breaks, attention and moments dedicated to relationships, creativity and personal well-being.
Getting ready for winter, without being afraid of change
The arrival of autumn doesn’t just mean saying goodbye to the light and heat of summer. It is also an invitation to welcome a different, more collected and peaceful phase. The seasons show us that every transformation brings with it a possibility: that of changing perspective, making room for the new and rediscovering aspects of life that often remain hidden in the most hectic periods.
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, but it is not an end time. It is a necessary phase of the natural cycle, the one that slowly prepares the return of light. The autumn equinox reminds us of precisely this: to stop, observe what changes and leave space for what is yet to be born.
