Kimberly Remmert, age 13, of Nashua, N.H., for her question:
HOW DID SEPTEMBER RECEIVE ITS NAME?
September is the ninth month of the year, but in the old Roman calendar it was the seventh month. The name comes from the Latin word "septem" which means "seven." September became the ninth month after Julius Caesar changed the calendar in 46 B.C., making the year begin on Jan. 1 instead of March 1.
The last four months of each year (September, October, November and December) were from the Roman calendar which had been taken from the Greek calendar, and they were taken from the words seven, eight, nine and ten.
September means the end of summer and the start of autumn. The autumnal equinox, which each year falls between September 21 and September 23, falls on September 22 this year. it is on the autumnal equinox that the night and day are each exactly the same length. This phenomenon occurs again in March for the springtime vernal equinox.
Labor Day, the only legal public holiday in September, comes on the first Monday in September in both Canada and the United States. After Labor Day, most children return to schools following their summer vacations.
Five Jewish holidays are celebrated in September or early October. They are Rosh Hashanah, or New Year; Tzom Gedaliah, a fast day; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles; and Simhat Torah, a day of rejoicing.
Hindus begin a 10 day celebration called Durga Puja, or the Festival of the Divine Mother, in September.
On September 1, 1939, German troops invaded Poland, starting World War II in Europe. And on September 2, 1945, Japan formally surrendered on V J Day to end the war.
On Sept. q, 1850, California become the 31st state of. the United States. And on Sept. 25, 1493, Columbus sailed on his second voyage to America.
Harvest festivals are celebrated by many people each September. In Europe, the people hold feasts and games. In America, the September harvest is often celebrated with local fairs and exhibitions.
September is one of the warmest months of the year in the southern part of the United States. States farther north have hot days too, but the nights are likely to be cool. And there are touches of that golden haze that indicate autumn is on the way.
September is also the time for the harvest moon. This is a name given to the full moon that occurs nearest the autumnal equinox. This year it will occur on Saturday, September 28. The moon rises at about the same time for several nights. It shines with such brightness that farmers in northern Europe and Canada can work until late at night to take in the fail harvest.
President Grover Cleveland signed a bill in 1894 making Labor Day a national holiday.