September has arrived, bringing slightly shorter days, the approach of a new season and, in Malta’s case, several more weeks when sunshine and warm weather can still feel distinctly summery.
Most of us associate September with the end of summer holidays and a return to normal routines, but the month has a surprisingly interesting story of its own. From ancient Rome to an unusual connection with December, here are ten facts about September you may not have known.
1. September was originally the seventh month
The name September comes from the Latin word septem, meaning seven.
That might seem odd for the ninth month, but the early Roman calendar began in March. September was therefore the seventh month before January and February became the first two months of the calendar year.
The calendar changed, but September kept its original name.
2. Its name has exactly nine letters
September has another neat numerical coincidence. It is the ninth month of the year and its English name contains exactly nine letters.
No other month has an English name containing the same number of letters as its position in the calendar.
3. September and December start on the same weekday
Whatever day of the week 1 September falls on, 1 December will fall on that same weekday.
September, October and November contain 91 days altogether. That works out at exactly 13 weeks, so by the time December arrives the weekdays line up again.
4. Autumn has two different starting points
Ask when autumn begins and you could get two perfectly reasonable answers.
Meteorological autumn in the Northern Hemisphere starts on 1 September and runs until the end of November. Astronomical autumn begins with the September equinox, normally on 22 or 23 September.
Meteorological seasons use complete three-month periods, while astronomical seasons are determined by Earth’s position in relation to the Sun.
5. Day and night are not perfectly equal at the equinox
The word equinox has roots meaning equal night, but that does not mean we experience precisely 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness on the equinox.
Among the reasons is atmospheric refraction, which bends sunlight and allows us to see the Sun shortly before it has technically risen and after it has technically set.
The date when day and night come closest to being equal is sometimes called the equilux.
6. September means spring on the other side of the world
While Malta and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere move towards autumn, countries in the Southern Hemisphere are heading into spring.
September brings increasingly longer days to places including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.
7. The Harvest Moon is not always in September
The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
It usually occurs in September, but it can occasionally appear in early October instead.
The traditional name is linked to the bright moonlight that historically gave farmers more light in the evening during the harvest period.
8. September’s birthstone is not just blue
Sapphire is traditionally associated with September and is best known for its distinctive blue varieties.
Natural sapphires, however, can occur in several other colours, including pink, yellow, green, purple and colourless varieties. Red gem-quality corundum is instead classified as ruby.
9. September has two traditional birth flowers
Aster and morning glory are both commonly associated with September.
Asters have traditionally been linked with qualities including love, patience and wisdom. Morning glories are associated with affection and the fleeting nature of life, fittingly for flowers that commonly open in the morning and close later in the day.
10. September does not necessarily feel like the end of summer in Malta
September may signal the transition towards autumn, but Malta can continue to enjoy warm weather and inviting sea temperatures throughout the month.
With the peak summer period beginning to pass while plenty of sunshine remains, September can still provide excellent conditions for swimming, sightseeing and spending time outdoors across Malta and Gozo.
So while September might look like an ordinary month on the calendar, its Roman origins, seasonal quirks and curious relationship with December give it considerably more character than its back-to-routine reputation suggests.
How many of these September facts did you already know?
