Its Fall Y’all

Despite the recent heat wave, today is the official start of fall. Soon the leaves will be turning and falling, the nights will get cooler and pumpkin-spice candles and coffee and treats of all kinds will be in the stores.  

Written evidence of ‘fall’ as the name of the third season of the year comes from as early as the 1500s, but was replaced by ‘autumn” in England in the late 1600’s. 

The name is thought to originate in the phrase the fall of the leaf, in reference to the leaf fall that occurs when the earth tilts away from the sun. But, according to Greek legend, Demeter, the goddess of fertility and harvest. Demeter is grief stricken when her daughter, Persephone returns to the underworld as the queen of Hades. As a result, Demeter allows the crops to wither until Persephone returns in the spring. 

No matter what you call it, fall is the favorite season for over 42% of Americans who will enjoy the next few months of football, cozy sweaters, nights by the firepit and yes, pumpkin spice everything.