Autumn
- Joey Paco
- Nov 1
- 3 min read
Welcome back!
My last blog was in German. I had a special guest: the Tooth Fairy. She shared the story of my visit to her castle and how I returned home safely after the solar storm. If you missed it, you can read it here. If you remember, last year she shared this adventure on my blog, “The Tooth Fairy Meets Joey.” (August 2024).
Today I want to talk with you about the colorful Autumn! Let me tell you first some interesting facts about the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The beginning and end of each season depend on where you live - whether you’re in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere. Wow, big words. Do you know what that is? The Earth is divided into two parts by an invisible line, the Equator. Canada, China, India, and the USA are located above the Equator. They are in the Northern Hemisphere. Australia is below the Equator. Yep, you got it. It’s located in the Southern Hemisphere. Here’s an interesting fact about Africa and South America: they are in both hemispheres!
How do scientists define the beginning and end of each season? There are two ways to calculate those dates. Astronomical: it depends on how far or near the Earth’s is to the Sun. The beginning and end of each season are on the 20th of each month. Spring: March 20 or 21 -June 20; Summer: June 21 - September 22; Autumn: September 22 - December 21; Winter: December 21 - March 20. Oof, this reminds me of my traveling on the Shooting Star Express and the dangerous Solar Storm.
Meteorological: based on the average temperature. The beginning and end of each season are easier to remember. Spring: March 1 -May 31; Summer: June 1 - August 31; Autumn: September 1 - November 30; Winter: December 1 - February 28 or 29.
Joey: I have an easier way to calculate the seasons. Spring: I sneeze a lot and have watery eyes. Summer: It’s lemonade time! Autumn: I need a windbreaker jacket when playing outside. Winter: My nose and hands freeze!
Now I will tell you about Autumn. Do you know why Autumn is also known as “Fall”? That’s an easy one. Yep, you guessed it right. It refers to the falling of the leaves. Why does this season have two names? In the olden days, people in Britain and the early American colonies used the word “Fall”. Then other English-speaking countries decided to call it “Autumn.” Some historians say the word “Autumn” comes from the Etruscan word “Autu.” The end of the agricultural year. The Etruscans lived in Italy between 900 BC and 200 BC.
Leaves change their colors to bright red, orange, yellow, and some purples. Why? Three reasons: (1) The days are shorter and cooler. (2) The trees stop producing chlorophyll. That is the green pigment that gives them their green color. (3) The trees choose to show off their true colors!
Animals prepare for Winter: Many animals, like bears and porcupines, eat a lot in Autumn to have enough body fat to survive their Winter hibernation. That is when the animals fall into a deep sleep in winter and wake up very hungry in Spring. Ha,ha,ha. Skippy, my unusual Autumn visitor, is very busy eating acorns, hazelnuts, and other seeds. Skippy also jumps around in our garden looking for the perfect spot to dig a hole and store its food. Many birds fly south where it is warm.
It's Harvest Time: Farmers are busy gathering their crops: apples, carrots, cabbage, corn, grapes, pears, plums, pumpkins, squash, and sweet potatoes.
Famous Festivals: All Hallows' Eve (the night before All Saints Day): USA, Puerto Rico; Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos): Mexico; Halloween: USA, Puerto Rico; Thanksgiving: Canada, Puerto Rico, and USA. Diwali (Hindu festival of lights): India and Nepal. Oktoberfest: Bavarian region, Germany.
Crazy Weather: The weather doesn’t know what to do. Some days are sunny, windy, and cool. Most days have gray sky, lots of rain, gusty winds, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and the Indian summer.
Star gazing: Dad said in Autumn, you can see these three constellations: Pegasus: it looks like a square. Andromeda: Home to the Andromeda Galaxy, near Pegasus. Cassiopeia: is shaped like a "W" or "M". Dad said it represents a queen. We visited the NASA Website to learn more about them.
My favorite Autumn Activities:
Jumping on the colorful leaves, picking up apples, chestnuts, and walnuts in the forest, drinking hot apple cider with cinnamon, eating pumpkin pie and roasted chestnuts, and gazing at the sky looking for constellations.
Mmmm, the whole house smells like PUMPKIN PIE!!!!!! Gotta run now, Grandma and Grandpa just arrived. In my next blog, I will tell you about… It’s a surprise!
Remember to brush your teeth and keep them clean for the Tooth Fairy.
Joey Paco
