Brrrrrrr…

Did you feel that? That gust of wind was strong…

CRUNCH

Ooh, that leaf was so crunchy! Love when that happens.

Ugh, it’s only 5 but it’s already dark…

Have YOU experienced any of the following within the last few weeks?? All of these things can only mean ONE THING…it’s finally fall!!

This season is always a pretty magical time of year–the leaves turn, the weather gets chillier, the fashion gets better, and best of all, we get much-needed relief from the oppressive heat. Everything from beverages to desserts to candles to soaps seems to be tinged with pumpkin spice, and both Halloween and Thanksgiving occur during this beautiful time of year. All the autumn advocates out there understand where my enthusiasm is coming from. Fall in the modern age (like most things) has sadly taken on quite the consumerist tinge…go look back and see how many of the things I just listed are products that need to be purchased. Yikes! Not much we can do about that now, unfortunately, but things haven’t always been this way…there was a time where the transition from summer to autumn meant more than just unearthing the UGG boots from storage and getting a pumpkin spice latte. First, though, let’s get into some etymology. Why is autumn called autumn, and why do we call it fall in North America? Well, it’s actually a bit mysterious. The word “autumn” comes from the latin autumnus and possibly auctumnus, but the origin of these words is somewhat unknown. In Old French, from around the 13th century, the word became autompne and eventually automne, which is the modern spelling of the word in French today. Up until the 16th century, the season was referred to as simply “Harvest” in English, until it got replaced by the word autumn. After having typed it over and over again, “autumn” hardly even looks like a real word anymore. In North America, the season is often referred to as “fall”, and the reason for this is very complex and in-depth; during autumn, leaves fall off the trees, so…it’s called fall! The West is always on another level of intelligence. The beginning of the season is always marked by the autumnal equinox, which, in the Northern Hemisphere, can occur on September 22nd or 23rd. In very simple terms, the equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator going in a southern direction. The season was referred to as the harvest because this time of year is when a bunch of produce is ripe and ready to go! Some of the many delicious crops that are ready for harvesting in the fall season include pumpkins, squash (and most gourds), corn, beets, carrots, potatoes, and tons of others. Since this time of year is so bountiful, harvest festivals and celebrations have been celebrated throughout history. In North America we have Thanksgiving, but many different harvest festivals are celebrated around the world, like the Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival in Chinese culture and Samhain in Irish culture (which is actually where Halloween originated from). 

I hope that you’re sufficiently in the fall spirit now, because I’ve got some fall activities to share with you that you should check out this season:

• Fright Nights at Playland. Fright Nights is a seasonal event held at the PNE Playland Amusement Park. They basically deck the park out in Halloween decor, with haunted houses and actors running around to scare you. Although I haven’t been myself, I heard that it can be relatively scary (thanks to the actors), so proceed with caution! Fright Nights is happening from October 6th to October 31st.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwTkVbOPFYX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

• Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. VanDusen Botanical gardens offers a fun little fall event on weekends from October 7th to October 29th. There are a bunch of food vendors and photo spots, as well as fun fall activities. I would say that this event is definitely geared towards a younger demographic, but it’s still cute and worth going to…especially as a date spot!

• Hockey Season Begins. This one is for all the sports fans reading this right now. Hockey season is about to begin, which means that there’ll be plenty of opportunities to watch and/or attend Canucks games. And if you’re really into it, try to see if you can join a fantasy hockey league. I’ve heard that they’re fun, but I cannot personally attest to this.

• The Great Outdoors. Fall is a great time for hiking, biking, and doing stuff in the mountains–it’s not too cold out and not too hot, and the foliage is breathtaking. Just going on a walk in your neighbourhood to admire the pretty orange and red leaves is worth it. Since fall may be the most visually stimulating season, I’d say it’s one of the best times to get outside.

• Laity Pumpkin Patch. Who doesn’t love a good pumpkin patch? Laity Pumpkin Patch in Maple Ridge is a super cute, classic pumpkin patch that is definitely worth the visit. Nothing compares to picking out the best pumpkin, bringing it home, and carving it up into the best jack-o-lantern the world has ever seen. At this particular patch, they’ve got animals, a corn maze, and, of course, plenty of pumpkins to pick from. They’re open for the fall season now, so check it out!

• Apple Picking at Willow View Farms. Like I’ve been saying, fall is the season for the HARVEST, so if you want to make the most of it, you have to go apple picking. Willow View Farms in Abbotsford (kinda far, but worth the trip if you can manage it) is a great place to pick some apples. They have a “U-Pick” system where you can bring your own bags and/or boxes for the apples that you pick. If you’ve never done it before, apple picking is pretty fun, and it’s a fall-exclusive activity. Give it a try, even if you don’t like apples.

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Fall marks a significant time of change–from the leaves, to the weather, to the produce. It’s also a time of preparation since Winter is not far off–humans getting all their provisions ready, and animals gathering food and preparing to hibernate. It really is a beautiful time of year!