In the 16th century, as poets became more descriptive, the phrase "the fall of the leaf" became a popular way to describe the season. Over time, this was shortened simply to "fall." While both terms were used interchangeably in Britain and America for centuries, "fall" became the dominant term in American English after the Revolutionary War, while British English retained "autumn."
The Golden Transition: When Exactly is Fall? When the air turns crisp and the first orange leaf drifts to the pavement, we all know the feeling—fall has arrived. But if you look at a calendar, the answer to "when is fall?" depends entirely on who you ask and where you are standing on the globe. The Two Ways to Measure Autumn what months are the fall
In Celtic spirituality and modern Wicca, the seasons are marked by cross-quarter days. The autumn season is often considered to begin with (August 1) and end with Samhain (October 31 or November 1). Samhain, which evolved into Halloween, is considered the "end of the harvest" and the beginning of the dark half of the year. In the 16th century, as poets became more
Farmers and gardeners need to know when fall begins to plan: But if you look at a calendar, the answer to "when is fall
For a quick reference, the months of fall depend directly on your hemisphere:
Because the Earth takes 365.25 days to orbit the sun, the exact dates of the equinox shift slightly from year to year. Month-by-Month Breakdown (Northern Hemisphere)
| Aspect | Astronomical Fall | Meteorological Fall | Perceptual / Cultural Fall | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Late Sept to Late Dec | Sept, Oct, Nov | Sept, Oct, Nov | | Start Date | Sept 21-24 | Sept 1 | After Labor Day (US) or school starts | | End Date | Dec 20-23 | Nov 30 | Before Thanksgiving or first snow | | Based On | Earth's orbit & tilt | Annual temperature cycle | Sights, sounds, & traditions | | Key Feature | Autumnal Equinox | Consistent data months | Fall foliage & harvest holidays |