Autumn Traditions We Miss

Fall is a favorite time of year for many people and for good reason. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and the leaves turn gorgeous colors before dropping to the ground in a flourish. The smell of those leaves, along with the scent of woodsmoke and hay, make this season one for all the senses. But, some of the fall activities we grew up with aren’t as common these days. There were plenty of treats in the fall that you couldn’t get any other time of year- and this was long before pumpkin spice lattes were all the rage. Here are just a few of the autumnal traditions we miss from the old days.

Haystacks in the Fields

I suppose more people lived on farms back in the day and so it just seemed like a much more common sight to see. Driving past those golden haystacks, with the leaves of the trees in between the fields turning brown and yellow and red- it was a beautiful thing to behold and a sure sign fall was here. The same goes for corn shocks. They were in so many fields growing up.

Burning Leaves on the Curb

Today folks in some areas can make leaf piles on the sidewalk or curb to be collected by the city on certain days. But, there was a time when people burned these piles, just off the curb, in the street. This iconic part of autumns past is immortalized in the opening scenes of the delightful film All That Heaven Allows from 1955.

At our house it was the kids’ responsibility to rake the leaves, too, a chore we relished by playing in the leaves before finishing the job.

Bonfires

The idea was that you could enjoy a nice, social bonfire while the weather was neither too hot nor to cold. But, I can remember many bonfires bundled up in flannel- a bit on the chilly side!

In many areas now open fires are not permitted so this is one tradition that is certainly happening less often.

Going to the Orchard

We went there for apple picking and for a fun day out. Apple cider, apple cider donuts, caramel apples, and other delights awaited visitors to these summer and fall meccas of enjoyment.

They often offered games or hayrides or other fun activities as well. You could make a whole day of it! Or you could visit a roadside apple seller for some no-nonsense bushels of apples.

Carving Pumpkins

People do still carve pumpkins, but there are lots of concerns now, one being kids cutting themselves by accident with the carving knives. I remember having minimal supervision carving pumpkins as kids, but times change. Mom would then make toasted pumpkin seeds from the “guts” we scooped out of the pumpkins! This ritual meant that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were just around the corner!

Another issue that vandals often will steal or smash jack-o-lanterns these days, leaving many folks today to buy plastic or foam ones or not put anything out at all. It’s kind of a shame. This just isn’t something most people had to worry about back in the day.

Fall Picnics

Going for a picnic is a pastime that’s missing from a lot of people’s lives these days. But, a fall picnic to me is the best since the ants and flies aren’t in full swing and the sun isn’t too hot. Plus, you get to crunch through the leaves which is arguably one of the very best things about autumn!

Winterizing the House

Along with all the fun things there was also the more task-y business of getting ready for cold months ahead. Putting up the storm windows, chopping wood for the fire in abundance, and “putting up” foods for the winter were all important tasks to prepare. There was a coziness to these rituals despite the hard work we had to put in.

While many of the old traditions are no more, there are still so many ways to embrace autumn. Here’s to enjoying your favorite fall traditions, be they new or old!