Othala - Sügisene pööripäev

September 22rd marks the day when day and night are equal, as if the scales of the universe have reached a delicate balance. On this day, known in Estonian as sügisene pööripäev (autumn equinox), nature seems to pause in anticipation of change. The ancient Estonians, deeply attuned to the rhythms of the natural world, marked this day with special reverence. It was a day of observation and prediction. People gazed intently at the sky, listened to the rustling of leaves, seeking to unravel the mysteries of the coming winter. The wind, nature’s invisible conductor, played a particularly significant role on this day. It was said that a northern wind foretold a cold and harsh winter, while a western wind promised a long and warm autumn. Even the future spring catch was linked to the direction of the wind on the equinox. The ancient Estonians believed that trees, like living beings, sensed the approach of change. Their leaning branches could reveal from which direction to expect the cold. If you didn’t know where north was and where south was, simply look at the trees – their crowns were always slightly denser on the southern side. On the autumn equinox, people gathered together to celebrate the end of the harvest and thank nature for its bounty. Around bonfires, they sang songs, told legends, and shared predictions. It was a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the dead became thinner, and the souls of ancestors descended to earth to be near their descendants. The autumn equinox is not merely a change of seasons; it is a deep connection between humans and nature, a time for reflection and preparation for winter. It is a day when we can feel like a part of the great cycle of life and death, and sense unity with all living things. So let us pause on this day, listen to the whisper of the wind, and watch the dance of the leaves. For within these gentle movements of nature lie the secrets of the future.