Today, September 22, is the autumnal equinox.  In honor of this event, have a listen to this wonderful song by Travis E. Pike. The lyrics are part English, part German.

 

 

I didn’t know what a solar equinox was exactly until today. It refers to the moment when the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator. It appears directly above the equator, rather than north or south of the equator. On the day of the equinox, the Sun appears to rise “due east” and set “due west.”

The Autumnal Equinox has some mystical significance. The ancients believed it was a sacred moment when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds grew thin. Native Americans honored the equinox as a time of harvest and gratitude. In the Eastern world, the equinox symbolized balance and harmony. Today, metaphysical practitioners say it’s a time for reflection and transformation.

Mount Equinox is the tallest mountain in the Taconic range. Its unique name was bestowed on it when the Vermont Surveyor General Colonel Partridge reached its summit on the autumnal equinox in 1823.  Mt. Equinox rises over 3,800 feet above the village of Manchester, where there is a hotel called Equinox House.

Here’s a picture of it, taken in 1911:

LOC

 

I found an article that offered some interesting information about the hotel. Here’s a partial summary:

The 200-room Equinox House was established in 1853.  The north wing of the hotel encompasses several guestrooms, as well as the Colonnade, lobby areas, front desk, gift shop, and administrative offices. The Equinox has had a glorious history with a glamorous list of past guests, including President Taft, President Grant, President Roosevelt, and President Harrison.

The hotel was robbed of one intended guest. Interestingly, Mary Todd Lincoln and her sons visited Equinox House during the summer of 1864. The First Lady was so impressed, she decided to return with her husband the following year. The hotel was so excited to host President Lincoln they constructed a special suite for the couple’s visit in the summer of 1865. But Abraham Lincoln would never get to enjoy it.

The hotel is still operational today under the name of the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa.