Transequinox

TRANSEQUINOX
('Transition to Equal Dark' - Midway Lux & Equinox)

WHAT IT IS AND WHEN

Transequinox is 45 days before the Equinox (autumnal equinox). It is a time considered to be the evening of the Year, where Equinox proper is considered the Nightbrink, Night turning, Dusk, or Avertosol ('turn from sun') of the year - the moment when the earth's west horizon crosses the sun's disc. Due to it being the time of year when the day and night are equal going into longer nights.

When Transequinox Is On The Ehoah Year Wheels

Click on images to view in greater detail

Gavia ('Loon') - Borealis Kalendar ('Northern Hemisphere Calendar')

Sphenisci ('Penguin') - Australis Kalendar ('Southern Hemisphere Calendar')

Follow this link to learn more about the Ehoah Calendars

For the Gregorian calendar the date it falls on is
August 5-6 for Borealis (Northern Hemisphere)
February 3-4 for Australis (Southern Hemisphere)

What Transequinox Celebrates

For most regions, this is the time of year where the fruiting season is at its fullest and the grains are coming in - making the dish of the season pastries. In particular are Heart Tarts that are given to your beloved, and sometimes given to a love interest as an expression of how you feel about them. In these same regions food is in abundance with the main harvest around the corner, allowing for hosting a feast with not much demand. With this time of ease of hosting and ease of travel Fairs are common - emphasizing diverse life skills to show off one's prowess. This is also a setting that encourages courting for those not yet in a relationship. With spring nine months away, bonding ceremonies (Ehoah styled weddings) are common.

In result, Transequinox is considered to be a time of togetherness, companionship and wooing.

It is also during this time of year that many birds have moulted their feathers and young birds of larger species are fledging. This makes it common for participants to incorporate those feathers into their season costume. Especially those who are interested in courting or are 'leaving the nest'. As its the warmest time of year many dress with more skin exposed to cool down and so this exposed skin is often decorated with henna or other temporary tattooing for some added festive flair.

Transequinox Fair

Transequinox begins on the Dawn of the 15th and ends on Midnight, with the Transequinox Fair continuing into the rest of the Hebdo (week). At Dawn a parade of sorts is done with everyone dressed in festive costume walking to the Fair Grounds, getting larger the closer you get to the grounds. A big incentive being that the first person to get to the grounds and complete a brief scavenger hunt (involving stall keepers signing off that you found the item they had on display) wins a series of coupons that can be used at each stall there during the festivities. Stalls of all sorts are set up selling crafts and produce to those in attendance; Competitions between crafters and athletes; Bonding Ceremonies (Ehoah style weddings) be it group or private; An open air Theater/Movie Night in a large tent; And a late night dance are all part of the Transequinox Fair.

Feathers

Transequinox happens to be an active time for many birds, many large adult bird species would have just finished their moulting (replacing old feathers with new) and young birds of large species are fledging (leaving nest and taking first flights). In Borealis (northern hemisphere) you are able to see the Avis Triangulum ('Bird Triangle' also known as the summer triangle) where the brightest stars of the three bird constellations of the Ehoah Year Wheel: Ardea (heron), Passer (sparrow), and Pandion (osprey) are connected to make the Avis Triangulum. Peafowl males are losing or already lost all their tail feathers by this point in the year which make for festive accessories. Therefore it is common for most participants incorporate feathers into their seasonal costume. Especially those who are interested in courting or are 'leaving the nest'.

In the Afternoon there is a Best Dressed Competition on who has the best feathered costume.

Henna Body Art

Henna Body Art is provided by some stalls for participants if not already done by the participants themselves before going the fair.

Heart Tarts

Photo Credit: 'Sweetheart Cherry Pies' by CakeStudent

Pastries filled with the fruits of the season are a usual treat this time of year. In particular are Heart Tarts that are given to your beloved, and sometimes given to a love interest as an expression of how you feel about them.

Bonding Ceremony
a Saegoah styled wedding

Bonding in the Ehoah tradition normally falls between the first and second harvest when food is bountiful and a feast can easily be made; a time of good weather for an outdoor ceremony (in a pavilion if its raining), for guests to travel, and a time if when conception occurs, the child would arrive in spring. There are of course regions that don't fall so neatly in this kind of season, so the time of the bonding ceremony can vary in response. Follow this link to learn more.

Tug of War

Team Tug of War

Different age groups of members of the community join in in a friendly game of tug of war. The groups are split into two teams and gather on either end of the rope. A line is drawn under the middle of the rope, players starting from laying on their stomachs (so long as no one is kneeling) a whistle is blown and the teams get up and try to pull the opposing team across the line. The moment a team member is pulled across the game is over.

One-On-One Tug of War

Captured Video by Captain Tristan Hatfield, 31 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs.

From friendly competition to settling conflicts, the One-on-One Tug of War is a highly competitive, strenuous game where the two players are strapped in a harness that is attached to each other from the back. Either a line is drawn the same distance from the front of each player or a circle is drawn around the players, with them in the center. The players begin by bracing themselves on all fours in the middle and start pulling when the whistle is blown. The first player to touch the line wins.

Blind Volleyball

Blind volleyball is volley ball with sheets, long enough to touch the ground and thick enough that shadows cast on it cannot be seen from the other side, are hung over a stretched cord.

Spikes and overhand serves are prohibited because it is already very difficult for the receiving team to react to any incoming ball without the increased speed of a spiked ball. Blind volleyball additionally creates a higher level of suspense for spectators, who, unlike the players, can see what is taking place on both sides.

Another unique feature of blind volleyball is how it can make the back row the row that hits the ball over the net. In regular volleyball, the back row tends to receive the volleyball and then move it to the front row. In blind volleyball, moving the ball to the back row makes it harder for the other team to see where the ball is and by hitting the ball on a flatter trajectory, the back-row players can more easily surprise the receiving team on where the ball will be coming over the net.

For rules on Volleyball follow this link.

Open Air Movie/Theater Night

On the night of the 15th is the Movie/Theater Night where there can be a full fledged performance and/or a feature film on the grounds, often under a large tent in case the weather is not favorable.

Late Night Dance

After the Theater/Movie Night, a Late Night Dance occurs in the same setting where a live band can perform on the stage with a bonfire to take breaks by.

Forget Me Not

Image Credit: Magpie Paper Works

During celebrations this time of year it is not uncommon to meet a special someone you want to keep in contact with. As a way to remember one another Forget-Me-Not (or other easily kept flowers) seeds are gifted to remember each other by with the hopes of growing more memories beyond this festive time. The seeds symbolize the potential for a growing relationship.

TRANSEQUINOX ('Transition to Equal Dark' - Midway Lux & Equinox)