September is National Heritage Month and September 24 is Heritage Day!
During September, the Sun moves from north to south on the celestial sphere, crossing the celestial equator on the date of the equinox, which is around September 22.
On that day, the lengths of day and night are approximately the same. After that date, the days become longer than the nights, and we’re heading into summer!
This date is known in the southern hemisphere as the spring equinox and is considered by astronomers as the start of spring. In popular culture, however, September 01 is usually thought of as Spring Day.
Seasons are somewhat difficult to pin down, and depending on who you ask, start on different dates and last for different periods. Regardless of what the actual date is, spring is seen in many cultures as a time of rebirth and regeneration. After good winter rains this is also the time when Namaqualand and the Northern Cape put on their breathtaking display of flowers which produces the seed store for the next generation of plants.
In agriculture this was and still is generally the time of ploughing, preparing gardens and sowing; the time when the first green grass begins to show, the cattle become fat and there is a promise of summer and a time of plenty to come.
The second Full Moon in September is the Blue Crane Moon.
Date of Spring Moon (2021–2050)
2021 Sep 20, 01:54
2022 Sep 10, 12:00
2023 Sep 29, 12:00
2024 Sep 18, 04:36
2025 Sep 07, 20:06
2026 Sep 26, 18:48
2027 Sep 15, 01:06
2028 Sep 03, 01:54
2029 Sep 22, 18:30
2030 Sep 11, 23:18
2031 Sep 01, 11:24
2032 Sep 19, 11:36
2033 Sep 09, 04:18
2034 Sep 28, 05:00
2035 Sep 17, 16:24
2036 Sep 05, 20:48
2037 Sep 24, 13:36
2038 Sep 13, 14:30
2039 Sep 02, 21:24
2040 Sep 20, 19:48
2041 Sep 10, 11:24
2042 Sep 29, 12:36
2043 Sep 19, 03:48
2044 Sep 07, 13:24
2045 Sep 26, 08:12
2046 Sep 15, 08:42
2047 Sep 04, 11:00
2048 Sep 22, 06:48
2049 Sep 11, 19:06
2050 Sep 01, 11:30
During September, we also celebrate Heritage Month, National Book Week 2020 (Sep 02) and Heritage Day (Sep 24).
Further reading
Heritage Full Moons in South Africa
| Month | First Full Moon | Second Full Moon |
|---|---|---|
| January | Mantis Moon | Leopard Moon |
| February | Dassie Moon | —— |
| March | Harvest Moon | Ochre Moon |
| April | Diamond Moon | Gold Moon |
| May | Frost Moon | Fire Moon |
| June | Sisters Moon | Honey Moon |
| July | Meerkat Moon | Protea Moon |
| August | Peace Moon | Dusty Moon |
| September | Spring Moon | Blue Crane Moon |
| October | Whale Moon | Elephant Moon |
| November | Milk Moon | Wool Moon |
| December | Springbok Moon | Eland Moon |