A few years ago, I was talking to someone about how nice it was that the blaring heat of summer had finally waned and the start of a new, cooler, season was upon us.

…and then he said something I had never heard before: “Did you know you could balance an egg on the Autumnal Equinox?”

Indeed, I had not!

Generally, my go-to practice with carrying eggs has been, “Don’t Drop Them.” What magical alchemy could this be??

You are not going to believe this, but I did, indeed, balance an egg on that autumnal equinox so many years ago.

It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.

…what was even crazier was when I balanced an egg the next day.

Yeah.

Apparently you can balance an egg any day of the year. It is just some silly myth to balance an egg on the days of equinox. There is no magic balancing ability the earth creates on the day of equinox. Which I know, is so shocking.

“Nonetheless, the vernal equinox brings no special egg-balancing properties with it. Standing an egg on its end is something just about anyone can do any day of the year; the feat simply takes the right egg and a little trial and practice.”

Thanks for sucking the fun out of the room, Snopes.

Anyway.

Besides this huge let down of an event, there are other ways to celebrate the arrival of Fall!

But you should balance some eggs today anyway because it’s fun.

 

1. Eggs-periments: For Kids

You really cannot find an easier science experiment than this! You will need a raw egg and a countertop…and that’s about it. This site suggests putting the egg on top of a layer of salt, to keep it balanced. I have used a paper towel in the past for the same reason. Either way you’re cheating, but that’s between you and the egg.

2. Children’s Museum: Egg Balancing Myths and the Equinox

The Children’s Museum goes a little farther with this whole egg-quinox nonsense and totally debunks it. Then they started putting things on top of the egg, like books and weights, because they’re over-achievers and scientists, and scientists tend to fiddle with stuff a lot. So, that makes sense.

3. Fun Autumn Equinox Facts

Besides the whole “you can balance an egg any day” bust, there are actually a lot of really interesting things going on! The length of the day and night are equal, hence “equinox,” or “equal night.” Which reminds me that daylight savings time begins pretty soon…

4. Traditions for the Fall Equinox Around the World

Every culture has a different tradition to usher in the new season. I remember one year we were in the middle of a Moon Festival in Beijing, and you simply have never seen so many mooncakes in your life. At least I had never seen so many mooncakes in my life!

5. More Autumn Equinox Traditions

Most religions also have their high holidays around this time. Jewish holidays include the new year celebration with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for repentance. Christians have days such as Holy Rood Day on September 14th, when you eat nuts and fattened goose, as well as Old Michaelmas Day later in October which is the end of the blackberry harvests.