By: Noah Ung, Staff Writer
As the air turns crisp and colors begin to shift, we follow suit and transition into a time of gratitude, sharing, and warmth. The fall season has become the epitome of happy, comforting, and nostalgic times, but why is that? Is it the activities, the fashion, the food, all three, or is it something else?
This “romanticization” of fall is deeply rooted in the sense of nostalgia we derive from the season. Autumn life consists of a large range of things, from comfy cozy sweaters to Thanksgiving dinners and carving pumpkins. These activities are extremely prevalent in the season of autumn; nearly everyone takes part in this “romanticization of fall.” Whether it be through the clothes, the food, or the traditions, this fleeting feeling of nostalgia always follows.
While fall is at the end of the year, why does it feel like new beginnings? Well, one reason is that, historically, fall has come hand-in-hand with many celebrations that mark renewal or change. Various harvest festivals are held in many different communities and, like the one we hold here in Millbrae, focus on the harvesting and selling of crops signifying the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Similarly, a large variety of Asian Moon Celebrations, a more well-known one being the “Mid-autumn festival,” are held centering around familial gatherings, thanksgiving, and most importantly the cyclical nature of the moon as it is typically shown brightest at this time. Due to this, we associate this time of year with the commencement of these holidays, and in turn a new beginning.
Fall also acts as a subtle but powerful catalyst for change. As the leaves turn and the air becomes cooler, we often feel an internal shift that mirrors the external world. The season’s unique blend of endings and beginnings pushes many to reflect on their lives and make adjustments, whether big or small. The changing colors of the landscape, paired with the crisp, fresh air, inspire a sense of renewal and drive that summer’s more relaxed atmosphere often lacks. The start of the academic year is a prime example: as school resumes, students and teachers alike find themselves embracing new routines, setting fresh goals, and embarking on new challenges. But it’s not just in school-across various aspects of life, people find themselves motivated to reassess their habits and set new intentions. The natural rhythm of fall encourages this introspection, urging us to prepare for the year ahead while also taking stock of the year that’s passed. This seasonal shift invites us to embrace change and growth, even as we seek comfort in familiar routines.
We even feel these changes in the Bay Area, despite our notorious lack of shifting climates. The days get shorter and colder, and nights become longer, forcing us inside a lot earlier. Our days begin to feel a lot more structured than we are used to causing us to fall into a comforting routine of controlling what we can. Many people find this control and comfort in things such as a nice cozy movie enjoyed with a hot pumpkin spice latte, bundled up in a soft, oversized sweater and a warm blanket. The experience is not just about the activities themselves but the feelings they evoke familiarity, safety, and a sense of being grounded. Simply the act of watching a movie with which you have built fond memories and the cocoon-like feeling of being wrapped in a blanket provides you with not only physical but emotional warmth. Small moments like these allow people to feel in control of their lives, a feeling that is especially needed during the season of change.
Across the world, fall represents a transition between the freedom of summer and the chill of winter. As the landscape changes, the weather cools, and the days shorten. To a lot of people, this could feel like “new beginnings.” “We’re coming off summer, a lot of new things are beginning, like [the] new school year, Tara Donohoe, a teacher in the Mills High School History Department puts it. So it seems to be the case that as the seasons shift and school years and fall sports begin to kick off, we as people feel called to remain comfortable in our routine as things change.
