The name September means "seventh month" as it was the seventh month of the year according to the old Roman Calendar which began in March. Today, September is the ninth month in the modern Gregorian calendar as it was in its predecessor, the Julian Calendar. The month of September has 30 Days.

Those born in the first part of September are said to be born under the sign of Virgo and those born in the latter part of September are born under the sign of Libra.

Other Calendars

Anglo-Saxon Gerstmonath, barley month
Switzerland Herbstmonat, harvest month

Fun Facts and Folklore about September

In 1752, Great Britain adopted the Gregorian Calendar in favor of the Julian Calendar they had been using. The date they chose to make the switch was September 3rd according to the Julian calendar. However, it was September 14th according to the Gregorian calendar so the date went instantly from the 3rd to the 14th. 11 days of British history never happened.

September is harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere and one European tradition associated with the season is that of the Corn Dolly. This was a decorative item woven of sheaves from the last of the season's harvest and kept safe through the winter for the spirit of the grain to rest in until the following planting season.

The September Full Moon

The September full moon may be called the full Corn Moon, or the full Harvest Moon. The harvest moon is technically the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, so it may fall in September or October. The full moon in September will always be in either Aries or Pisces (Pisces if before the equinox, Aries after.)

Full Moon Dates
(Estimates, may vary according to your location)
September 19, 2013, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Pisces
September 8, 2014, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Pisces
September 28, 2015, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Aries
September 16, 2016, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Pisces
September 6, 2017, Corn Moon, Full Moon in Pisces
September 25, 2018, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Aries
September 14, 2019, Harvest Moon, Full Moon in Pisces
September 2, 2020, Corn Moon, Full Moon in Pisces

The September New Moon

The new moon in September will always take place in either Virgo (if before the equinox) or Libra (after the equinox.

New Moon Dates
(Please consider these estimates, they may vary according to your location)

September 5, 2013, New Moon in Virgo
September 23, 2014, New Moon in Libra
September 13, 2015, New Moon in Virgo
September 1, 2016, New moon in Virgo
September 20, 2017, New Moon in Virgo
September 9, 2018, New Moon in Virgo
September 28, 2019, New Moon in Libra
September 17, 2020, New Moon in Virgo

Symbols for the Month of September

Birthstone sapphire
Birth flower Forget me not, Morning glory, aster
Deities Vulcan, Opis, Demeter

Events in September

In the Northern Hemisphere, autumn officially begins in September. In the Southern Hemisphere, spring begins. Meteorological autumn/spring begins September 1st. The autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere or the spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere takes place sometime in September between the 20th and the 24th.

In the Northern Hemisphere, September often marks the beginning of the school year.

Labor Day is celebrated the first Monday in September in the US and Canada
National Grandparents Day takes place the first Sunday after Labor Day
Respect for the Aged Day takes place on the third Monday in Japan
September 19th in International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Michaelmas Day
Queen Elizabeth I was born on September 7th, 1533

Mabon or Second Harvest in the Northern Hemisphere
Ostara or Eostre in the Southern Hemisphere
Ludi Magni begins September 4

Michaelmas Day the 29th of September carries a great deal of folklore attached to it.

Most Pagan Pride festivals take place in the month of September, but they may also take place in August or October.

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