Fall Is Back In Session

It’s September again, and with fall right around the corner, there are plenty of things to look forward to.

So What's So Special Autumn?

It represents the start of the holiday season to name one. With the leaves changing colors, the drop in temperature, and pumpkins around every corner, it’s a promise that fun is right around the corner.

The season of fall has always had a special place in people’s hearts all the way back to medieval times. The reason is that of the fall harvest.

The Fall Harvest or Fall Equinox has been around long before any of us were born. The fall equinox begins on September 21 or 24th. It also marks the first official day of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, interesting enough, it marks the exact opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it marks the first day of spring. 

For those of you unfamiliar with what countries are in the Northern Hemisphere, here’s a quick recap: The United States, The United Kingdom, most of Europe, China, Japan, India, Russia, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico.

So with so many countries getting ready to go into fall, it’s only natural that they have their own holidays and traditions. So, in honor of this great season, let’s look at how they celebrate.

The United States of America.

The people of the United States are notorious for always looking for a good time, and that’s especially true during the holiday season. To decorating our homes; or going to restaurants to taste their special seasonal menu. It’s no wonder we get so excited during this time.

1. Halloween. 

The first holiday to kick off the season is Halloween, which falls on October 31st.

Halloween is a classic amongst kids because they get to dress up and trick or treat in the neighborhood for free candy. According to History.com, the holiday originated from a Celtic tradition known as Samhain, where they would dress up and have a bonfire to ward off ghosts.

2. Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a holiday near to the hearts of Americans because it represents getting to spend time with those they love while eating good food around the table. It’s also a time for us to reflect on what we’re thankful for.

The very first Thanksgiving took place on November 25th, 1621 between Plymouth colonist and members of the Wampanoag tribe, and the holiday has carried on ever since.

The United Kingdom.

1. Fashion Week

During the month of September, the United Kingdom celebrates fashion week. The event takes place between Sept 17-21st.

2. Halloween.

Just like the U.S. United Kingdom celebrates Halloween; however, there is much calmer than the United States. The good news is the children still get candy.

3. Bonfire Night 

One special holiday special to the United Kingdom is Bonfire Night, which celebrates Guy Fawkes’s failed attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament on the 5th of November 1605. Guy Fawkes was an English Catholic fighting for Spain.

Japan.

Japan has a wide variety of festivals during the fall.

1. Healthy Sports Day or Taiiku no Hi.

The holiday celebrates the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. It encourages good health and fitness. 

Germany.

1. Harvest Thanksgiving.

One of Germany's big holidays is called "Erntedankfest" which is their version of America's Thanksgiving. One key difference though is that they celebrate theirs on Oct. 3rd and it usually takes place in the church. 

With so many countries, we can't discuss every tradition and holiday, but the countries we have discussed certainly make one excited for the season.