AutumnIt's that time of the year again. Autumn is a special season full of changes. During this time, many kids start playing fall sports like football and soccer. The smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider, and halloween decorations in the stores. The ha
It's that time of the year again. Autumn is a special season full of changes. During this time, many kids start playing fall sports like football and soccer. The smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider, and halloween decorations in the stores. The harvest moon will light up the sky and look bigger and brighter than other full moons. Leaves change colors and animals begin migrating to warmer places or storing food to get ready for winter. The autumn equinox happens. Equinox means equal. The sun is over the equator and day and night are almost the same length. After that, the days keep getting shorter, and we know winter is on its way. The Equinox only happens twice in a year, once in the spring and then again in the fall.
The harvest moon is a special feature of autumn. This full moon rises right around the time of the equinox and helps farmers work late into the night during the harvest season. This moon looks bigger than most and many places and cultures celebrate the harvest moon with festivals and songs. People have celebrated harvests in many cultures since prehistoric times, the earliest known harvest festivals were in ancient Egypt and China over 4,000 years ago. The fall harvest was very important in the past since food was needed for winter survival.
Animals are also busy in the fall. Some birds, like geese, fly south to find warmer weather. This trip, taken by animals twice a year, in the spring and the fall, is called migration. Squirrels don’t migrate and are some of the busiest animals in the fall. They collect food and hide it to eat during the winter months. An extraordinary fact about squirrels is that their memory is so good they can remember thousands of hiding spots. Bears prepare for winter in a very different way. They eat a lot to build up fat for hibernation. Salmon is a favorite food because it is full of protein and fat. By eating constantly, bears build enough fat to keep them warm and fed while they hibernate through the winter. Watching animals shows us how they work hard to survive and adjust to the seasons.
Autumn is a season full of changes in sports, nature, and animals. It is a time to celebrate the harvest, play outdoors, and get ready for the cold months ahead. The beauty of autumn is all around us, from golden leaves blowing in the wind, to migrating birds in the sky. Take the time to notice the beauty of all the changes that are happening around you. It’s a reminder that the world is always moving, changing and getting ready for what’s next.