This season marks the beginning of the civil  year and three major feasts. It is a season of high spiritual activity. Deeper intercession with better understanding is required, thus a longer guide.

The first month of the Jewish sacred calendar, the month of Abib, started by divine instruction recorded in Exodus 12:2 and Deuteronomy 16:1. The rest of the months of the year were determined from one new moon to another (Isaiah 66:23) a strictly lunar calendar. The Gregorian calendar is based on a solar year so there is disparity between the sacred and the Gregorian calendar.

In 2012, reckoning by the Gregorian calendar, the first sacred calendar month Abib began on the day of the new moon 22^nd March – 20^th April and the consequent months follow in that pattern, either on the new moon or the appearance of the first crescent. The seventh sacred calendar month will begin on 16^th September 2012.

The middle of September 2012 on the Gregorian calendar coincides therefore with the first half of Tishri which is the seventh (7^th) Jewish sacred calendar month. The prefix “sept” is derived from the root word depicting “seven.” It is the first (1^st) month of the Jewish civil calendar. However, going by the Gregorian calendar it is the ninth (9^th) month.

This month will also commence the final quarter of the year, and the autumnal equinox which falls on the 22^nd September when the sun will be directly over the equator crossing toward the tropic of Capricorn. It is the day when the daylight and night hours are virtually equal.

This is a season of many ritual festivals. The Israelites made offerings to God every month in praise, and worship and normal burnt offerings. The 7^th month marked the beginning of a new cycle of life.  Therefore they blew the silver trumpets to mark this new beginning during Feast of Trumpets [Rosh H’shanah]. It also marks the beginning of the new Jewish civil year calendar. In addition, the people rejoiced in God’s blessing throughout the past year, and asked for His blessing for the New Year.

The 10^th day of this month marks the Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur]. On that day, a solemn assembly is held and burnt offerings are presented to the Lord (Lev 23:27-32). Repentance is made to God for sins and transgressions committed in the year past, and His forgiveness asked. On the 15^th day of this month the 7-day feast of Tabernacles [Sukk’ot] commences.

In several African tribal communities, September is marked by the celebration of major traditional festivals, strengthening and/or renewal of altars and the renewal of covenants with deities. It is marked by offerings and sacrifices to the gods, drumming and dancing, sacred assemblies, resolutions and attempts at development of communities, ceremonies of rites of passage especially circumcision ceremonies.  In some of the cultures it is a month of religious processions, music, dancing and theatrical exhibitions.