When is the first day of autumn in 2024? Plus the autumnal equinox, daylight saving time

Starbucks may release pumpkin spice lattes earlier every year, but the official start of fall doesn’t change.

In 2024, the autumnal equinox will occur on Sunday, September 22 at 8:43 a.m., marking the official start of fall. During an equinox, which occurs twice a year, the Earth’s axis reaches a near-perfect balance with the sun, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths around the world, according to the National Weather Service.

These days, fall-themed drink menus are flooding the market well before the equinox. Wawa, Krispy Kreme, Rita’s Water Ice and 7-Eleven, among others, begin offering pumpkin spice drinks and other fall flavors as early as August 1.

According to the internet, fall officially begins with “Christian Girl Autumn,” an online meme that has become an annual phenomenon popularized by influencer Caitlin Covington and often features women dressed in oversized scarves, big hats, and boots amidst fall foliage. While the meme started as a joke, it has since become a staple of online fall culture. Covington herself has been known to partake in the pumpkin spice latte tradition.

What is the autumn equinox?

The autumnal equinox is the time of year when the Earth’s axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun. This results in an almost equal amount of daylight and nighttime across the planet. In fact, the Sun is positioned directly over the equator, which creates this balance.

The term equinox comes from Latin words Aequus (meaning “equal”) and Nox (meaning “night”).

Throughout history, many cultures have celebrated the equinox. Archaeologists have even discovered prehistoric sites where humans tracked the equinoxes, including Stonehenge in the United Kingdom and Newgrange in Ireland, according to HISTORY.com.

In Greek mythology, the autumnal equinox is the time when the goddess Persephone returns to the Underworld, where she reunites with her husband Hades every year during the fall and winter months. When Persephone leaves the Underworld in the spring, her mother Demeter brings back the growth of plants and crops.

While the equinoxes give an identical day and night, the solstices create the longest day of the year in summer and the longest night of the year in winter. The summer solstice occurred on June 20 earlier this year and the next winter solstice will occur on Saturday, December 21 at 4:19 a.m.

When is the first day of autumn?

The autumnal equinox, or first day of fall, occurs on Sunday, September 22 at 8:43 a.m.

When will the clocks go back in 2024?

Daylight saving time will end on November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m., when clocks will “go back” one hour, providing more sunlight in the morning.

Returning to standard time helps keep the brain’s internal 24-hour clock, or “circadian rhythm,” in check. Morning light is what the human body naturally evolved with, so waking up to sunlight in the morning naturally signals the body to wake up, just as the setting sun signals it to go to sleep.

Many states, including Pennsylvania, have debated ending daylight saving time and moving to a permanent standard time, but none have yet passed legislation to do so. While daylight saving time is not what the human body is naturally accustomed to, it does allow for more sunlight in the evenings to enjoy after school and work.