According to the equinox, it’s autumn and there’s a slight breeze in the air in the morning. Everyones been itching for the season to turn. The Texas heat is far more exhausting than it is nice, so a little rain and a slight cold front is incredibly refreshing. Here in the south it feels like we barely even have 2 seasons, so many of us cling onto the idea of fall and its transitional beauty.
Other than just the obvious effects of the weather, there’s also society’s obsession with fall and the lead-up to the holiday season. Fall is aesthetically beloved, from its colors to the food, music, and media associated with it. Open Spotify and you’re probably suggested at least one autumn themed playlist.
All of this doesn’t matter though, because fall really only gets one month to itself: October. In a lot of American homes, on the morning of November 1st a switch instantly flips from Halloween to Christmas. Which I believe is completely bogus–in my opinion November should be appreciated for being the peak of autumnal bliss, and not just drowned in Mariah Carey whistle notes.
It feels like every year, fall goes by in a blink because the winter holiday season keeps starting earlier and earlier. Obviously the holiday season is incredibly enjoyable, so I can understand trying to jumpstart it, but isn’t autumn also enjoyable? Have we already gotten bored of our pumpkin spiced candles and speckled red leaves?
So this is my defense of autumn. To those obsessed with decorating for the different holidays, maybe October can be Halloween decorations, November can be fall decorations (whatever that means to you), and December can be whatever holiday of your choosing.
Social media as a whole seems to be obsessed with fall, but we only give it so much space to be appreciated. Let’s delay the fall to holiday transition to after Thanksgiving. That gives the Christmas obsessed people at least a solid month to go ham, and allows most of November to be a nondescript celebration of fall.
Obviously, none of this matters that much. Decorate when you’d like to, and do whatever makes you happy. But maybe this year at least allow a moment for pure autumn appreciation, and maybe buy one or two pumpkins.