Fall is in the air… The leaves are changing color, the aroma of apple pie drifts through the door, and the coziest fashions are in style. Best of all, there are a bunch of new seasonal activities for you to enjoy! From pumpkin patches to apple bobbing, to corn mazes and bonfires, there is something for everyone to explore!

Pumpkins Everywhere!

The tradition of carving pumpkins and making jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween originated in Ireland. Many cultures have adapted the custom of carving vegetables around the world, but Ireland specifically used turnips and mangel wurzels. When Irish immigrants reached America in the 1800’s, they discovered that pumpkins were more suitable for the practice, and decided to use them instead of their native Irish vegetables. (Wikipedia) Nowadays, pumpkin carving is a fun fall pastime for people of all ages. So head to a pumpkin patch near you and check it out!

Apple Bobbing

Apple bobbing is believed to have begun at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain. The victorious Romans combined their traditional celebrations with those of the Celtic culture, and apple bobbing became a part of the festival of Samhain, a Gaelic festival that signified that winter was beginning and the harvest season was over. (Wikipedia) Since then, apple bobbing has become a popular seasonal activity celebrated around Halloween, and is sometimes turned into a competition to see who can obtain an apple from a bucket full of water first, or who can eat their apple the fastest.

A Blazing Bonfire

The tradition of lighting a bonfire as part of a celebration began in the 15th century as part of the festivities of Saint John’s Eve. This event has been practiced in many different countries, and it varies slightly throughout different regions. In Ireland, bonfires are lit on Halloween, and like apple bobbing, they are part of the celebration of the Gaelic festival of Samhain, ending the harvest season and indicating the beginning of winter. (Wikipedia)

Lost in the Corn Maze

The corn maze we know today originated in Annville, Pennsylvania in 1993, but there are records of corn mazes in 1982. (KidsKonnect) The first corn maze like the ones we are familiar with today was created by Don Frantz and Adrian Fisher. Corn mazes are often arranged in various designs such as shapes or movie characters, and they vary in size. They are popular in North America, and are often accompanied by other fun fall activities.

A Pumpkin Spice Latte, Please

In addition to unique activities, with fall there comes classic seasonal drinks. Pumpkin spice lattes are one of these drinks, and are one of the many exclusive treats present on Starbucks’s seasonal fall menu. (Allrecipes) They were invented in 2003 by Peter Dukes in the “Liquid Lab,” which is located in the Starbucks headquarters and designed for creating tasty new drinks for customers to enjoy. (Tastingtable.com)

What do iUP Owls Think of These Traditions?

Brooke Bolinger in 11th grade says, “Carving pumpkins gets me in the fall mood because I get to spend time with family enjoying a tradition that we do every fall! Pumpkins are also a symbol of fall, so setting them out on our front porch displays our excitement for the new season!” 

Amirah Santos Figueroa in 9th grade says, “I absolutely LOVE bonfires! It doesn’t really matter the type of people you go with, it’s always fun cozying up next to a fire with wind in our hair, smore or hot chocolate in your hand, and friends around you!”

Danny Hall in 9th grade adds, “…once the bonfire is lit, everyone just seems to forget their worries and begins to tell stories and have fun around the fire.”

Yadiz Martinez in 8th grade states, “…I love figuring out mazes and have a fairly good sense of direction, figuring out how to escape the maze was incredibly fun!”

Sasha Dauletau in 11th grade says “I have a pumpkin spice latte at least once a week. It’s delicious and really reminds me of fall!”

Something For Everyone

There are a variety of fun seasonal activities to engage in during the fall. Pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, bonfires and corn mazes are just a few of the many wonderful pastimes we can observe, celebrate, and enjoy. And better yet, there are always a wide array of scrumptious treats to get you in the cozy mood for the season! So if you haven’t already, see what fall festivities are available in your area!

Works Cited:

Fink, B. (2022, August 31). How did pumpkin spice become the unofficial flavor of fall? Retrieved October 7, 2022, from Allrecipes website: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-did-pumpkin-spice-become-so-popular/

Hiatt, V. (2022, August 12). What you never knew about the origin of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from Tastingtable.com website: https://www.tastingtable.com/stories/what-you-never-knew-about-the-origin-of-starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/

Wikipedia contributors. (2022a, September 4). Corn maze. Retrieved from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Corn_maze&oldid=1108512544

Wikipedia contributors. (2022b, September 22). Bonfire. Retrieved from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonfire&oldid=1111636800

Wikipedia contributors. (2022c, September 27). Apple bobbing. Retrieved from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Apple_bobbing&oldid=1112722652

Wikipedia contributors. (2022d, October 3). Jack-o’-lantern. Retrieved from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack-o%27-lantern&oldid=1113819483

Worksheet Freelancer. (2018, October 15). Corn mazes facts & worksheets. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from KidsKonnect website: https://kidskonnect.com/social-studies/corn-mazes/