(Unsplash / Alisa Anton)
With the end of summer just behind us, leaving with all its summer festivities and with the end of the year creeping towards us. It feels like the perfect time to share some of the things that you can look forward to during the autumn season. From holidays to the change in scenery, here are 4 things to look forward to during autumn.
1. The Colours
While the weather in fall may be described as wet, dreary, and melancholic. The same cannot be said about the scenery, going from lush greens to a sea of yellows, reds, and oranges. This simple change in scenery, completely changes the vibe, really sets in the idea that summer is over and autumn is coming in. Just imagine, breathing in the crisp fall air, sipping on a nice cup of coffee in the morning and looking out and seeing the multicoloured trees like an ocean set ablaze, a swirl of reds, yellows, and oranges. A tinge of melancholy as you watch the leaves fall upon the ground, painting the streets in the colour of fallen trees.
2. Seasonal Flavours
You might see this and instantly think of pumpkin spiced lattes, maple syrup flavoured donuts, or pumpkin pie flavoured desserts. But seasonal flavours are so much more than just fast food/restaurant specials, it’s the change in ingredients from summer vegetables to autumn squashes. From Brussels sprouts to butternut squashes, the diversity of flavours brings a cornucopias worth of recipes to your kitchen. From classics like pumpkin pie, to mashed potatoes, try spicing up your meals with some seasonal flavours and maybe you’ll even find a new favourite.
3. Bird Migration
It’s right around the start of autumn when bird migrations begin to occur, the act of bird going on vacation to warmer regions down south. However, it is also one of the best times for bird watching, offering reasonable temperatures, less leaves to look through, and birds migrating across the sky. If you’ve never tried bird watching before, it could be a fun new experience to try, walking a local bird trail and just trying to spot as many birds as you can. If you are interested in bird watching, you should make sure you are properly prepared for the outing.
4. Holidays
And finally, fall holidays. Some might say that the holidays in fall are the best part of fall, and they might be right, with so many amazing holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Halloween it’s hard to not get excited about autumn holidays.
If you haven’t already gotten a taste of the seasonal flavours of autumn by the time Thanksgiving Day rolls around, you’ll most likely have some then. Thanksgiving Day, a day of giving thanks to your family and friends, celebrated with a Thanksgiving Feast often served with a roast turkey as the centrepiece. Gathering with your friends and family, preparing a massive feast with mouthwatering foods, glistening ham, soft and fluffy mashed potatoes with tangy cranberry sauce drizzled on top, the slightly charred Brussels sprouts, and you can’t forget the whole roast turkey, slicing it up and serving it to one another and drenching it in gravy. It’s these kinds of experiences that make holidays so special, and it precisely why Halloween is amazing.
When said out loud the concept of Halloween seems incredible odd, a day where people dress up and walk around at night asking for candy from houses decorated with skeletons, and jack-o-lanterns. Sounds strange right? But it’s a great family bonding activity and makes great memories, from decorating your home to buying/making your costume and even carving jack-o-lanterns there is so much you can do. Some of my fondest memories are of Halloween, dressed up in my bee costume, going trick-or-treating with my family, seeing the houses decorated with eerie headstones, giant spiders, spindly skeletons hanging out, and seeing all the different jack-o-lanterns.
There are many more holidays in autumn each bringing their own unique festivities, like Oktoberfest, the Day of the Dead, and many more it’s hard to cover them all. Regardless, holidays bring people together, be it friends, family, or soon to be friends.
And that’s four things to look forward to during fall I hope you found something to try, and feel free to tell me what you most looking forward to this fall.
Written By: Matthew Lin
Contact: mlin114@my.bcit.ca