Hemisphere
Hemispheres are a gameplay element introduced in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When creating an island, the player has the choice of choosing either a Northern Hemisphere island or a Southern Hemisphere island. By default, the Northern Hemisphere option corresponds to North America, Europe, and Asia, while the Southern Hemisphere option corresponds to Australia and South America. However, the player may choose to live on different hemispheres that don't correspond to their region of choice.
These options are not purely aesthetic, as they change the appearance rates of bugs, fishes, and sea creatures. Seasons are also affected; when it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it's winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Events and holidays may also vary and have unique dialogue specific for that hemisphere, but they are not tied with the season and can appear in both hemispheres. Turkey Day, for instance, may have autumn roots, but is also available in spring for the Southern Hemisphere. Mystery Island tours, Harv's Island, and the May Day tour are also affected by the choice of hemisphere as those islands will correspond to the respective season that the main island is currently in.
Several unique features for both hemispheres are present as well. Camellia bushes start blooming on January 1st for the Northern Hemisphere, but it does not bloom on July 1st assuming each bush in both hemispheres have the same time frame for when each bush blooms. Instead, holly bushes end blooming on June 15th, and camellia bushes bloom the next day, making camellia bushes last longer in the Southern Hemisphere than it would in the Northern Hemisphere. Weather patterns are also affected. Where the weather patterns favor rain for the Northern Hemisphere from June 16th to July 5th, the Southern Hemisphere's equivalent dates of December 16th to January 5th favor more in clear weather than it does in rainy weather. This is due to the dates correlating with Toy Day and New Years. Additionally, Southern Hemisphere players from December 24th to December 30th enjoy more days with clear skies with possibility of meteor showers while Northern Hemisphere players on those same days enjoy more snowy weather.
There's also the unique availability of ornaments. While most of the seasonal materials are tied to the seasons respectively, ornaments ignore the hemisphere rules and are available in both hemispheres from December 15th to January 6th. Both hemispheres gain cedar trees with bright lights, and if shaken will drop red, blue, and gold ornaments.
Notable differences
| Difference |  Northern Hemisphere
|
 Southern Hemisphere
|
|---|---|---|
| Seasons | ||
| Spring | February 25 - May 31 | August 25 - November 30 |
| Summer | June 1 - August 31 | December 1 - February 28/29 |
| Autumn | September 1 - November 25 | March 1 - May 25 |
| Winter | November 26 - February 24 | May 26 - August 24 |
| Weather | ||
| Rain | February 25 - November 15 | August 25 - May 25 |
| Rainbows | February 25 - March 31 April 11 - November 15 |
August 25 - September 30 December 16 - May 25 |
| Snow | November 26 - February 24 | May 26 - August 24 |
| Auroras | December 11 - February 24 | June 11 - August 24 |
| Events | ||
| Bug-Off dates | The fourth Saturday of June, July, August and September 2024: June 22 July 27 August 24 September 28[nb 1] |
The third Saturday of January, February, November and December 2024: January 20 February 17 November 16[nb 2] December 21 |
| Fishing Tourney dates | 2024: Winter: January 13 Spring: April 13 Summer: July 13 Autumn: October 12 |
2024: Winter: July 13 Spring: October 12 Summer: January 13 Autumn: April 13 |
| May Day | Azalea bushes will be in place during the maze. | Holly bushes will be in place during the maze. |
| Fireworks Show | Redd will wear a Straw Boater during the Fireworks Show raffles. | Redd will wear a Dandy Hat during the Fireworks Show raffles. |
| Turkey Day | Turkey Day is a celebration of the fall harvest, with decorations in Resident Services colored in the Fall Harvest variant | Turkey Day is a celebration of spring, with decorations in Resident Services colored in the Spring Blooming variant |
| Toy Day | Weather will be all snowing, and the music will be calm, with jingle bells. | Weather will be clear all day, and the music will be vibrant, with percussion. |
| Toy Day aftermath (December 25th) | Weather will be snowing until the afternoon hours. | Weather will be clear all day. |
| Shopping seasons | ||
| Spring shopping | March 1 - May 31 | September 1 - November 30 |
| Summer shopping | June 1 - August 31 | December 1 - February 28/29 |
| Autumn shopping | September 1 - November 30 | March 1 - May 31 |
| Winter shopping | December 1 - February 28/29 | June 1 - August 31 |
| DIY recipes | ||
| Young Spring Bamboo DIYs | February 25 - May 31 | August 25 - November 30 |
| Cherry Blossom DIYs | April 1 - April 10 | October 1 - October 10 |
| Summer Shells DIYs | June 1 - August 31 | December 1 - February 28/29 |
| Acorns/Pine Cones DIYs | September 1 - December 10 | March 1 - June 10 |
| Mushrooms DIYs | November | May |
| Maple Leaves DIYs | November 16 - November 25 | May 16 - May 25 |
| Cozy Turkey Day DIYs | The items will be crafted and previewed under the Fall Harvest variant | The items will be crafted and previewed under the Spring Blooming variant |
| Snowflakes DIYs | December 11 - February 24[nb 3] | June 11 - August 24[nb 3] |
| Nook Shopping | ||
| Summer Solstice | June 7 - July 6 | December 1 - December 31 |
| Winter Solstice | December 1 - December 31 | June 7 - July 6 |
| Bush season | ||
| Camellia (Pink/Red) | January 1 - March 31 | June 16 - September 30 |
| Azalea (Pink/White) | April 11 - May 31 | October 11 - November 30 |
| Hydrangea (Blue/Pink) | June 1 - July 20 | December 1 - January 20 |
| Hibiscus (Red/Yellow) | July 21 - September 20 | January 21 - March 20 |
| Tea-Olive (Orange/Yellow) | September 21 - October 31 | March 21 - April 30 |
| Holly | November 1 - December 31 | May 1 - June 15 |
| Isabelle, Tom Nook, and Timmy and Tommy seasonal clothes | ||
| Summer clothing | March 20 - October 19 | October 20 - March 19 |
| Winter clothing | October 20 - March 19 | March 20 - October 19 |
Gallery
Northern Hemisphere
Bunny Day in the Northern Hemisphere
- NHMayDayGoal.jpg
May Day in the Northern Hemisphere
Fireworks Show in the Northern Hemisphere
Redd during the Fireworks Show in the Northern Hemisphere
Halloween in the Northern Hemisphere
Turkey Day in the Northern Hemisphere
Bulletin board announcement of Turkey Day in the Northern Hemisphere
Toy Day in the Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Bunny Day in the Southern Hemisphere
May Day in the Southern Hemisphere
Fireworks Show in the Southern Hemisphere
Redd during the Fireworks Show in the Southern Hemisphere
Halloween in the Southern Hemisphere
Turkey Day in the Southern Hemisphere
Bulletin board announcement of Turkey Day in the Southern Hemisphere
Toy Day in the Southern Hemisphere
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Names in other languages
Northern Hemisphere
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Southern Hemisphere
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Notes
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