We have entered the season of festivals. This month is  crucial and significant  for many cultures for varied reasons. The word September is derived from the Latin word ‘Septem’ meaning seven (7).

For the Jews, it is the seventh (7^TH) month of their sacred calendar, but the first (1^st) month of their civil calendar. They called it ETHANIM (TISHRI) and mark  the occasion with special festivals or feasts.

God appointed 7 feasts for Israel in the Old Testament (Lev 23). The last 3 are in the fall (autumn) in the month of Tishri when their civil year begins. These are: Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the feast of Tabernacles (Booths, ingathering) (Neh 8:14; Exo 34:22). The Jewish New Year (called Rosh H’shana in Hebrew) along with the Feast of Trumpets begins on the 1^st of Tishri at New Moon.

Monthly, the Israelites offered God praise, worship and normal burnt offerings. The 7^th month was special because it marked the beginning of a new cycle of life. On the first day of the month, they celebrated the Feast of Trumpets. It also marked the New Year’s Day as it is the first month of their civil calendar. During these feasts the people rejoiced for God’s blessing throughout the year just ended, and asked for His blessing in the coming New Year.

The 10^th day of this month marked the Day of Atonement. On this day, repentance is made towards God for their sins and transgressions, and they asked for God’s forgiveness. A sacred assembly is held and offerings are presented to the Lord by fire (Lev 23:27-32). On the 15^th day  the feast of Tabernacles is celebrated.

In other cultures, it is the season for the celebration of festivals and renewal of covenants with their deities e.g. in most cultures which carry out circumcision in the older children in Africa,  this is the season for such elaborate rites of passage from childhood into early adolescence.

By the spilling of blood, many of the tribes fortify their traditional altars as power bases. It is marked by offerings and sacrifices to the gods, drumming and dancing, sacred assemblies, resolutions and attempts at development of their communities. It is a season of religious, processions, music, dancing and theatrical exhibitions; a time of organisation of sporting activities, relaxation, joy, etc. Even the dead and idle were not forgotten. In some parts of Africa and South America, large groups of the populations have days designated when they go to clean the cemetery. This year, a part of Ramadan – the annual Moslem fasting season and the consequent Idd celebrations and the “Haj[1]” fall during this month.

September is the ninth (9^th) month according to the Gregorian calendar. The autumnal equinox[2] falls around the 21^st of the month. At that time, the sun is directly overhead the equator crossing toward the   Tropic of Capricorn. In Israel, it is the time for ploughing and sowing. This month we focus prayers for the EU nations.

[1] One of the five pillars of Islam; the Haj is the Holy Journey each devotee must make at least once in a lifetime – after which they will add to their name “Al-Haj” for men and “Hajjat” for women as a sign that they have fulfilled this “righteous” act.

[2] Equinox: Means “Equal nights”. On that day, the daylight and night hours are equally 12 hours in areas along the equator.