September facts

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September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, coming between August and October. It has 30 days. Its name comes from the Latin word sept for "seven" (it was the seventh month of the year, before January and February were added to the beginning of the year.)

September always starts on the same day of the week as December, but never ends on the same day of the week as another month.

The Month

September WPA poster
A Works Progress Administration Poster, from 1940, for September

September begins on the same day of week as December every year, as each day in September and its equivalent in December are 91 days (13 weeks) apart. No other month in any year, common or leap year, ends on the same day of the week as September, though in common years, it ends on the same day of the week as December of the previous year. September starts and ends on the same day of the week as June of the following year, if that year is a common year. If the following year is a leap year, then September starts on the same day of the week as March and November of that particular year (September 2011 started on the same day of the week as March and November 2012, as an example).

In the old Roman calendar, September was the seventh month, which is where it got its name ("Septem" means "seventh"). The ninth month at the time was November ("Novem" means "ninth"). With Julius Caesar's calendar reform, September became the ninth month, with 30 days. September comes after August and before October.

An equinox occurs in September, either on the 22nd or 23rd, meaning there are days and nights of about equal length, half way between the June and December solstices. In the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn (Fall) begins in this month, while in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the beginning of Spring. For meteorologists, the people who study the weather, these seasons begin on September 1 in those hemispheres. In both hemispheres, it is the seasonal equivalent of March in the other. In most Northern Hemisphere countries, school starts in this month, following the summer holidays.

In Ancient Greece, September was called Boedromion. The Anglo-Saxons called it Gerstmonath, meaning "Barley month", referring to the harvest. In other countries, it is referred to as Autumn Month, such as in Finland (Syyskuu) and German-speaking parts of Switzerland (Herbstmonat).

Ethiopian New Year occurs in September. Jewish New Year also often occurs in this month.

Events and Occurrences

Fixed Events

Brazilian Army Parade
An army parade marking Brazil's independence day on September 7.
Rafael Casanova 11 Setembre
Flower offerings on Catalonia's National Day, September 11.
Maple trees turning color autumn
In the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves on trees start to change color around the time of the September 22/23 equinox.
Herbst
Autumn (Fall) begins in the Northern Hemisphere in September, mostly on September 23.


Moveable and Monthlong Events

Masskrug
Beer glasses at the Munich Oktoberfest, held in late September and early October


Selection of Historical Events

Shigemitsu-signs-surrender
Japanese foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signing the surrender on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945
Independence of Brazil 1888
Painting of the Brazilian Declaration of Independence, which occurred on September 7, 1822.
Flag-of-California
Present-day flag of California, which became a US State on September 9, 1850.
Sydney Dust Storm 6am
Early-morning image of the dust storm affecting Sydney, Australia on September 23, 2009
Met Police Blue Lamp
Blue Lamp symbolising the London Metropolitan Police Force, which was founded on September 29, 1829.


Symbols and Trivia

Logansapphire
The Sapphire is the birth stone of September.
  • The birth stone for September is the sapphire, symbolising clear thinking. The birth flowers for the month are the forget-me-not, morning glory and aster.
  • The Zodiac signs for September are Virgo (August 22 – September 21) and Libra (September 22 – October 21).
  • In the English language, September comes last alphabetically out of all the months of the year.
  • Also in the English language, September has the longest name of all the months of the year, with nine letters. Coincidentally, it is also the ninth month.
  • September is the first of four months in-a-row to have a name ending in "ber", with the last three months of the year, October, November and December, also doing so.
  • September is one of two months that never ends on the same day of the week as another month of the same year, the other being May.
  • It is the joint-least common month for birthdays among US Presidents, along with June. They both have one each.
  • Among Prime Ministers of Australia, September is the most common month for birthdays, with seven.


Months of the Year

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Images

  • Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry septembre

    September, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

  • Liège (3)

    School starts in September in many countries, such as here, in Belgium

  • 2008-05-04 at 18-26-44-Forgetmenot-Flower

    Forget-me-not, September birth flower



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September Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.