PARA-189-Autumnal-Equinox: Ashoun

Caretaker Status: Unknown

Affiliated companion(s): none

Level 5 - abstract
Word: Equinox (Autumnal) [Alt. Interpretation]

Origin:
Vernal equinox and autumnal equinox: these classical names are direct derivatives of Latin (ver = spring and autumnus = autumn).
These are the historically universal and still most widely used terms for the equinoxes, but are potentially confusing because in the southern hemisphere the vernal equinox does not occur in spring and the autumnal equinox does not occur in autumn.

The equivalent common language English terms spring equinox and autumn (or fall) equinox are even more ambiguous. It has become increasingly common for people to mistakenly refer to the September equinox in the southern hemisphere as the Vernal equinox.

This Paralogos was born of this terminology confusion- many think that the Winter Solstice is the Autumn Equinox, since it would make more sense for such a name to refer to something happening in autumn. This case shows, like many phrases, that individuals can change meanings over time for language.

Definition:
Of, characteristic of, or occurring in autumn.

An equinox is commonly regarded as the moment when the plane (extended indefinitely in all directions) of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun, which occurs twice each year: around 20 March and 22–23 September. In other words, it is the moment at which the center of the visible Sun is directly above the Equator.

Magic Status: 0 - Uninitiated

Wisdom Status: 0 - Unaware