Learning to Fall for Autumn
The Two-Names Season
This is a strange season. It’s not my favorite.
I thought understanding it might make it easier to endure. Because I can’t stop time. And the season has arrived.
Out of the four seasons, only this one has two names.
- Autumn.
- Fall.
The two names have very different meanings, and learning about them has helped me tolerate this season.
Fall is the most recent name- only around since the 16th century.
It came from England and refers to the falling of the leaves.
(OK- so no great shock there.)
Autumn is Old French and can be traced back to the Latin autumnus.
It means to increase, and refers to the harvest.
Autumn wasn’t a time to dread.
It wasn’t just the precursor to the cold winter.
No, it was a time to celebrate as the harvest was gathered and a safe and plentiful winter was packed away in root cellars and barns. A plentiful harvest meant that we would be here to greet the Spring.
