The fall season brings cozy nights, colder weather, warm stews, and a final burst of color before the long dead of winter.
But the season also holds a shroud of mystery.
Autumn brings us closer to the veil, connecting us to our ancestors and spirituality with an ethereal essence unmatched by other seasons.
When is the Fall Season?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the fall season officially begins with the autumnal equinox, an astronomical event where the sun is directly above the equator, making day and night equal. It typically occurs between September 22 and 23rd.
In 2026, the autumnal equinox occurs on September 22, marking the first day of Autumn.
Spring and Autumn are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning September 22 marks the first day of spring for countries south of the equator.
For them, the fall season begins at the vernal equinox, which takes place in March.
Months of Autumn
In the North, fall begins in September and ends in December. October and November are entirely in autumn, while September and December are cusp months, holding portions of the season.
We generally think of September, October, and November, as the fall months, even though only the last week or so of September occurs during the season.
We think of December as a winter month, even though most of the month is technically in autumn.
Why Do We Call It Fall and Autumn?
Fall is the only season with two English names: “fall” and “autumn.”
Throughout the centuries, each season went by many names. We didn’t even always recognize four seasons.
As time passed, specific names won out. The word “harvest,” which represented the fall season for centuries, fell out of use as people started saying “fall” or “autumn.”
In the United States, we’re more likely to say “fall,” but in Great Britain, they’re more likely to use “autumn.” The terms are interchangeable.
What Does the Fall Season Represent?
While spring represents rebirth and growth, fall symbolizes the end of the cycle: maturity, preservation, and abundance.
In the fall, we harvest the fruits of our labor from the spring and summer months and preserve what we can to survive the long, cold dead of winter.
We celebrate nature’s bounty while preparing for the coming darkness.
Autumn also brings us closer to our ancestors. During this time of the year, we celebrate the dearly departed and honor the otherworldly spirits, keeping them a part of us.
In Greek mythology, the story of Persephone best embodies the symbolism of changing seasons. Persephone must return to her husband in the underworld at the autumnal equinox in September. Her mother, Demeter, so grief-stricken by her departure, refuses to nourish the plants, so they wither and die.
The dying plants foretell the coming winter.
Holidays in Fall
As the fall season celebrates abundance, many cultures hold festivals and holidays to mark its passing.
Here are nine of the most iconic holidays occurring in autumn.
Diwali
Diwali, the festival of lights, occurs during Ashvin, the 7th month of the Hindu calendar (which corresponds to between late September and early November on the Gregorian calendar).
During Diwali, Hindus celebrate the victory of light over darkness and goodness over evil. The festivities usually last 6-7 days and include ritual cleansings, feasts, family gatherings, fireworks, and oil lantern lighting.
Halloween
Halloween is one of the biggest Western fall holidays. We celebrate the thin veil with ghosts, goblins, haunted houses, and homages to all things spooky.
During Halloween, we dress up in costumes to scare away evil spirits (and load our bags with candy) while reveling in mischief.
It’s a time for tricks, treats, parties, and fun.
Samhain
Our modern Halloween traditions originated in an older Celtic holiday, Samhain. Pagans used Samhain to mark the shift from the light, abundant days of summer to the darker, scarce days of winter.
The pagans believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest on Samhain, so they often honored their ancestors on this day.
Modern witches still hold this belief, making Samhain an essential holiday for rituals, spellwork, and communing with the other side.
Day of the Dead
Mexican tradition also believes in a thinner veil in the fall. On November 1, they celebrate the Day of the Dead to honor their friends and family who have journeyed to the other side.
The Day of the Dead isn’t a sad holiday. The dead aren’t mourned; they’re honored. The day is marked with feasts and celebrations, offering people a way to keep the memories of their ancestors alive.
It’s a day to be joyful that they lived and reconnect with them rather than sad that they’re no longer with us.
Hecate’s Night
Though the ancient Romans celebrated Hecate (or Hekate), the goddess of magic, in August, modern practitioners prefer to honor her when the veil is thinnest.
Hecate’s night occurs annually on November 16th. Worshippers honor the goddess with feasts and offerings, hoping to receive her blessing for a magical year.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival to commemorate the end of the harvest season. In Chinese tradition, the moon was the largest during this period, and it was also called the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival (in recognition of the tasty treat often enjoyed during the festivities).
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of light. People carry and display thousands of lanterns to symbolize good fortune. It’s also a time for family celebrations, dragon dances, fireworks, and matchmaking.
Chuseok
Chuseok is a Korean version of a mid-autumn festival. In South Korea, it’s a three-day festival held during the full moon, while in North Korea, it’s limited to a one-day celebration.
During Chuseok, Koreans honor their ancestors. Those who have left home return to their ancestral villages to pay homage to those who have come before, sharing feasts of traditional Korean fare. People also visit the graves of their loved ones, clearing weeds and cleaning the gravestones while visiting with their spirits.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is the most popular German celebration in fall. Though the holiday morphed from an autumn festival into a beer-drinking festival, especially when it made its way to America, it originated as a wedding celebration in the early 19th century.
Nobody cares about the wedding anymore, as revelers travel to Munich (or their local festival) to overindulge in the tasty brew and drunkenly perform the ritual chicken dance.
Thanksgiving
Around the world, cultures host Thanksgiving celebrations to honor the harvest. The tradition allows us to have one massive feast to enjoy the bounty before preserving it for winter.
Thanksgiving has taken on an even more symbolic meaning in the United States. We celebrate our country’s founding and the perseverance of its earliest residents, honoring the Pilgrims who hosted the “first Thanksgiving” and survived the harsh winter.
Fall Season Themes
Fall is a season of opposing themes.
The harvest brings abundance, but we must preserve it to prepare for the coming winter. We celebrate life as we fill our bellies but honor the dead as the trees change color and the veil thins.
In these themes, we find the delicate balance between eating and starving, growing and withering, and life and death.
It’s a time to rejoice in all we have, remember those no longer with us, and ready ourselves for harder times ahead.
The Best Ways to Enjoy Autumn
Fall abounds with fun activities, giving you ample opportunity to enjoy the season. We developed an epic list of 80+ fantastic fall activities, but here are our five favorites:
Explore a Haunted House
Every September, haunted mazes pop up in every major city. Maniacs chase you with chainsaws, hazy smoke fills the halls, and creepy music plays in the background as you navigate the terrifying tunnels to find your way out.
I love a good haunted house. The spooky thrills get your heart pumping in a safe yet terrifying way to celebrate all things horror.
Are you brave enough to make it through?
Leaf Peeping
Nature’s burst of color showcases the best of fall. Take a road trip to view the spectacular oranges, reds, and yellows as nature puts on its final show of the year.
Check out this fall foliage map for the best leaf peeping near you.
Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is proudly one of America’s favorite traditions. Let your kids dress up in spooky, fun costumes and run door to door to score the neighborhood’s best candy.
If you don’t have kids, join the festivities by decorating your house and having candy ready. Hand out something to everyone who comes to your door, even the teenagers. Nobody is too old for the joy of trick-or-treating.
Attend a Harvest Festival
Attend a harvest festival to celebrate the harvest season like our ancestors.
Our modern harvest festivals have transformed into pumpkin patches, where visitors can enjoy hayrides, corn mazes, and apple cider while picking out their perfect pumpkins for the season.
Enjoy a Thanksgiving
The last feast of the season allows families and friends to gather and give thanks for nature’s bounty.
Host your own Thanksgiving for your local friends or head home to celebrate the day with family.
Give thanks for the wonderful people in your life while enjoying good food and great entertainment.
Embrace the Fall Season!
Fall has always been my favorite season. The smells of harvest, changing colors, and spooky atmosphere make it a magical time of year.
Get out there and enjoy it!