The Tall, Charming, Athletic, Happy, Wonderful Season

Fall time is in the air, and that brings joy to many people. In fact, 41% of U.S. adults identify fall as their favorite season. My personal favorite is autumn, or fall, or the harvest, whatever you might choose to call it.

Autumn is the only season with three names. Why is that? In 12th and 13th century Middle English, the season following summer was known as “haerfest” and was when they took in crops. Thus came our word “harvest.” The French word for fall was “autompne”, borrowed from the Latin “autumnus.” That is the origin of the word “autumn.” When people started moving from rural America to the cities and towns, the season was more associated with the falling of leaves than the harvest. The word “fall” originated from the phrase “the fall of the leaf” in the same way that “the spring of the leaf” designated the vernal equinox. The term “fall” is more commonly used throughout North America.

It is said that people born in the autumn generally have a longer life span. We have several fall birthdays in our family. Studies show that since they were born this time of year, they are apt to grow taller and be more athletic. This might be due to the increased sun exposure of the expectant mamas, and the resultant increased production of vitamin D. Those harvest time babies are also prone to be more charming and friendly due to the extra snuggle time while very young during the long winter months. On the downside, they are said to be more subject to allergies and asthma. Dad fits all of these excepting the one downside of allergies. The tall, charming, athletic, happy, lucky fellow is turning sixty this year in October!

Autumn came to visit us on the 23rd of September. The Gregorian calendar is not perfectly aligned with the orbit of the earth and due to this ever-so-slight discrepancy, the autumn equinox will vary occasionally, and sometimes falls on September 22nd, 23rd, or 24th. The last time it occurred on the 24th was 1931. Mark your calendars for September 24, 2303!

Favorite season or not, fall is a beautiful time of the year. It is the time we wind down our summer projects and prepare for winter. It is the time for hiking, raking paths in the leaves and playing “fox and geese,” taking picnics, and enjoying the colorful display of the changing foliage. Whether you call it autumn, harvest, or fall, it makes for a tall, charming, athletic, happy, wonderful season for all. Happy fall!

~Jayla