Sweden explains the meaning of the word höstdagjämning — The Local Sweden

In Sweden, the autumn equinox took place on September 23, 2026, and in Swedish it is called höstdagjämning. The word is formed from the Swedish words höst — “autumn” — and dagjämning — “equinox,” The Local Sweden reports.

Meteorological autumn

Sweden uses a meteorological definition for the beginning of autumn. Autumn begins after the average daily temperature remains below 10°C for five consecutive days. The first day of such a five-day period is considered the start of autumn. In the country’s southernmost areas, this can happen even in November, although it usually occurs in mid-October.

Winter, in turn, begins when the average temperature remains below 0°C for five consecutive days. As a result, the duration and timing of autumn’s arrival vary considerably depending on the region of Sweden.

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Origin of the word

The word höst originally meant “harvest” and is related to the Old Norse haust, which initially referred to gathering. It later came to denote the season when farmers harvested their crops. The modern Swedish word for harvest is skörd.

The component dagjämning consists of the word dag — “day” — and jämning, which conveys the meaning of equalization or balance. The adjective jämn can also mean level, equal, or even. It is used, among other things, in the words jämställdhet and jämlikhet, which denote equality.

On the day of the equinox, the duration of daylight and darkness is approximately equal around the world. After the autumn equinox, daylight becomes shorter and will continue to decrease until the winter solstice, which in 2026 falls on December 21.