Seasonal Decorating: Fall Traditions
Cooler temperatures and changing leaves herald the arrival of autumn. It’s always been my favorite season of the year. Colorful trees, football season, sweaters and jeans—ahh, Fall is here!
On the first day of Fall we make the first batch of homemade hot chocolate mix for the season. The first mug is often sipped while listening to Mom read aloud from a favorite book. This year it was The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis.
Sometime in September we decorate the house for Fall, with leaf garlands, loose leaves, squirrel figurines, brown transferware china plates and spicy-scented candles. One of my grown daughters has made her own family tradition of fall decorating on October 1, complete with a ritual of goodies.
Ceramic, raffia and realistic plastic pumpkins are scattered throughout the house. The local grocery store sells interesting miniature gourds and pumpkins, and dried corn on the cob in various hues. These are placed in a corner on the kitchen counter, and on end tables in the den.
Outside, hay bales and pumpkins are stacked in either a flowerbed or in front of the tree by the street. Dried corn stalks are gathered from last summer’s garden, bundled with heavy brown string, and attached to the front porch post. Sometimes a scarecrow sits on the bench.
This change-of-season decorating lasts for three months, because we add a few Halloween items in October, then some turkey and Pilgrim accents in November. A bonus is that we often get in the mood to rearrange furniture or do some extra cleaning and decluttering to make way for the new decorations.
You don’t have to go all out. It doesn’t have to be an ordeal or a guilt trip. Even if you just redecorate the fireplace mantel or the coffee table, you’ve set the stage for Fall atmosphere in your home.
Yes, we’re busy, and who has time to overhaul the home décor? We choose to make time, just like anything else. Children (and husbands) delight in the extra touches, the pretty decorations that create homey atmosphere.
For dinner last night, our seven-year-old daughter decorated the table for Fall (even though it was just Papa, Mama and two little girls eating dinner). Moms, your children are watching and learning from what you do:
You don’t have to be an interior designer and you really don’t even have to be “a creative person.” Copy a magazine photo or decorating book from the library. The great masters learned to paint by copying another’s masterpiece. You probably won’t be able to copy the arrangement exactly, so your own ideas will come into play and it will stretch your creativity muscles.
Even if you just buy a new candle and scatter some leaves around it, try introducing some new seasonal décor into your home this Fall. You’ll enjoy the change of scenery and you just might get in the mood for some Fall cleaning, too.
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What are your favorite Fall decorations or traditions? Leave a comment below!
Fall is my favorite season, too! I love to sprinkle a few fall flowers around my great room and change out the scents as well. To really get into the fall celebration, I enjoy attending the annual craft fairs in my area. I love the feel of the cooling temperatures, though sometimes the temps can be extreme in one direction or the other, and browsing down the rows of crafts, great smelling foods, and visiting with friends along the way. It’s a great time! It also gives me a chance to do some early Christmas shopping. Then, at night, I love to build a campfire in the backyard and roast hotdogs and marshmallows with friends and family. (Sadly, we can’t have the campfire this year yet, due to drought conditions–but I’m still hopeful that rain is coming.)
I agree! I love Fall. In New England, we never know if it will be cool, hot, or cold in the Fall, but the leaves, pumpkins, and the Apple Harvest Day craft fair and celebration mark the beginning of Fall. The backyard is great in the Fall without mosquitos and a little fire in the fire pit! Thanks for sharing–I not only got ideas, but also some reminisces of other Falls . . .
Rhonda