Rushing Autumn
Hear me out: Autumn decorations and pumpkin spice season should start EARLER than they already do. In fact, they should start right around August 1. If this is uncomfortable for you, then… I actually am uncomfortable with this too. HOWEVER, I have actual science to back me up on this “hot take”.
In the sweltering days of August, as many of us are searching for a fresh bottle of sunscreen and a replacement cooler, we find those dreaded displays of “back-to-school” supplies and suddenly they’re intermixed with shelves of fall decorations. Pumpkin spiced products start rolling out after mid-August and sound anything but refreshing for those still in the grip of summer. But is it actually too early?
According to the movement of the Earth around the Sun, Fall starts on September 21 (or 22 in some years) and lasts until Dec. 21. Astronomically, we shouldn’t really be getting excited for the fall season until mid-late September. Some time ago, meteorologists agreed that Fall was September, October, and November. So meteorologically, Fall starts on September 1. One can reasonably argue that we could get excited and plan ahead about something like a season shift a few weeks ahead of time. So it’s logical, if slightly off-putting, to begin to purchase themed decorations and pumpkin-spiced beverages in August, in anticipation of the start of the season.
But are we rushing into autumn simply to escape the doldrums of summer?
Don’t get me wrong- Fall is glorious. I’ve written many blogs and articles about the beauty and wonder of fall, stretching back to my first one on Why Your Brain Loves Fall published in HuffPost. You don’t get to be “The Pumpkin Spice Neuroscientist” without loving the fall season.
So believe me when I say: No offense to fall, but are we stealing from Summer?
Where is the celebration of the end of summer? The glory of enjoying the long days, the warm weather, the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, the season of vacations and living in the moment? Are we giving a short shrift to the value of our laziness as we eagerly dive into high productivity mode of getting back to school, back to work, and kicking into full gear? September is one of the biggest months of the year for hiring. Fall is one of the most productive seasons for almost every industry as companies race to meet end-of-year goals of all sorts. That productivity and unified energy toward goals is exciting and intoxicating. I love the fall season for its energy and enthusiasm as much as for its bright colors and warm drinks.
But doesn’t Summer deserve a proper send-off?
August 1 is what’s called a cross-quarter day. It’s the half-way mark between the astronomical start (June 21) and end (Sep 21) of summer. Throughout human history and across cultureswe have celebrations that align with the movement of the earth around the sun. In the middle of fall (Sep 21- Dec 21) that lands around Nov. 1, Halloween, All-Saints Day, Samhain, and others fall around that time. It’s a marker when we go from early fall apple-picking to late fall preparations for winter. In the middle of winter (Dec. 21-Mar 21), we get Feb.1, a celebration of Midwinter, Groundhog’s Day, and other celebrations that mark the first signs of spring. In spring (Mar 21- June 21), the middle marker lands around May 1, with celebrations of May Day, Cinco de mayo, and many other spring festivals that launch us into summer.
August 1 isn’t a popular celebration time in our modern culture. But it does have some traditional celebrations. Lemmas. harvesting late summer fruits and vegetables with early fall produce. That is… apples and pumpkins and wheat. The whole harvest theme. It’s basically pumpkin spice season. So here’s my pitch: the “fall” stuff starts August 1 and is great until Nov 1. And then, it’s time for the winter stuff.
I know what you’re going to say: “but what about Thanksgiving!?” Well I can’t solve everything today, but I’d say that we probably just have to re-theme slightly. I’m still working on it. Let me know if you have an answer!
