Fun Facts About Fall For Kids

Explore captivating Fun Facts About Fall. Discover the season's beauty, traditions, and natural wonders in this fascinating collection.

These Facts About Spring are full of all kinds of holiday season fun, and a whole lot of HAPPY. Learn with us all about Spring with these fun facts and we have some added crafts and printables that will make you love this season as much as we do!

Before we get into all of HAPPY Fall, don't forget to check out the last season, Summer Facts.

Fall Season

As the weather changes throughout the year, four different changes occur. These four changes are called seasons. The four different seasons are Spring, Summer, Fall (or Autumn), and Winter!

Two terms are used when talking about seasons, equinoxes and solstices.

Equinox is when the sun's position is exactly over the Earth's equator which results when there are equal amounts of daylight hours and darkness. There are two times a year this happens (the Start of Spring and the Start of Fall)
Solstices are a day within the year when there is the most amount of daylight and the least amount of darkness. This too only happens two times a year. (Start of Summer and Start of Winter)

Fall in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is caused when the Earth’s axis in that hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. This not only means that the number of daylight hours begins to decrease, but as the hours of daylight decrease, the overall temperatures begin to decrease.

When Does Fall Start?

Fall or Autumn falls in September, October, and November in the Northern Hemisphere (North of the Equator). In the Southern Hemisphere, it falls in March, April, and May.

The beginning of Fall season in the United States (Northern Hemisphere) starts on the autumnal equinox, otherwise known as the Autumn Equinox or Fall Equinox. The first day of Spring or the Spring Equinox is the same day in the Southern Hemisphere.

The autumnal equinox is the day when the hours of daylight equals the hours of nighttime.

Fall Season Start Dates

Each season has two different start dates. There is an astronomical start and a meteorological start.

The astronomical start date is based on the Sun's position in relation to Earth. Fall's astronomical start date is typically September 22nd or September 23rd. It starts on March 20th or March 21st in the Southern Hemisphere.
The meteorological start date is based on the calendar as well as the annual temperature cycle. Fall's meteorological start date is always September 1st.

When Does Fall End?

The Fall season typically lasts about 3 months. Based on the meteorological Fall ends on the last day of November on November 30th.

Based on the astronomical season the end date is typically between December 20 through December 23rd. This is dependent on the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year!

How Did Fall Get Its Name?

The Fall Season is also known as the Autumn Season. Its also been called the Harvest due to the timing of the farmers starting the harvest of their crops in late summer and into the cooler months before winter.

During the 16th century in England, as people moved from rural farmland into the cities, a farmer's harvest was not as applicable. That is when the words "Fall" and "Autumn" started to be used for the third season between Summer and Winter.

The word Autumn comes from the Latin word Autumnus which is at its root the meaning "the passing of the year". The word Fall was short for the phrase "Fall of the Leaf". Both phrases were used in England, although Autumn was the more popular.

It was the new settlers from England that came over to America that used the term "Fall." It became the more popular name for the season in America after that.

Interesting Facts About Fall

The harvest moon was the nearest full moon to the Autumn Equinox. The light of the full moon would allow farmers to work later into the evening to harvest their crops.
Fall is the season of harvest festivals, celebrated since ancient Celtic traditions to give thanks for the bountiful crops.
The term "sweater weather" refers to the lowering temperatures this time of year.
The sun rises perfectly in the east and sets perfectly in the west on the Autumn Equinox.
Scarecrows have been used for thousands of years to scare the birds away from the crops.
Acorns, the small nuts produced by oak trees, are nature's way of preparing for the future in fall, serving as vital food for animals and ensuring new oak trees in the spring.

Facts About Leaves

Superstition says that catching a falling leaf is good luck.
Deciduous trees shed their leaves during fall, while evergreen trees retain their leaves all year round.
The green color of leaves comes from a green pigment called chlorophyll, which helps in capturing sunlight for photosynthesis.
As days become shorter and nights longer in fall, deciduous trees receive less sunlight, leading to a decrease in chlorophyll production.
As chlorophyll breaks down, the green color fades, revealing other pigments like carotenoids, which give leaves their yellow and orange colors.
The sugar maple tree's leaves are known for their vibrant red hues during autumn.

Fun Fall Foods

Fall is the perfect time to enjoy pumpkin spice lattes and delicious pumpkin pie, adding to the season's cozy and comforting fall food.
Pumpkin spice, a popular fall flavor, doesn't contain any pumpkin at all! It's a blend of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Pumpkins, a quintessential fall food, belong to the squash family and are used to make not only pies but also soups, bread, and even lattes.
Fall is the best time for apple picking, and there are over 2,500 different varieties of apples in the United States.
Cider, a refreshing apple-based drink, is a popular fall beverage and comes in various flavors, including spiced and mulled varieties.
Cranberries, another fall favorite, are grown in bogs and are used to make delicious sauces and desserts.

More Fall Facts

The leaves change color due to the decreasing daylight, creating a mesmerizing display like the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis.
Fall signals the time for many birds to embark on their winter migration to warmer places, just like the Arctic Tern
In Greek mythology, fall is associated with the story of Persephone the queen of the underworld. She spends half the year in the Underworld, leading to the changing seasons.
Geomagnetic storms during fall increase the chances of observing the stunning Aurora Borealis in the northern regions.
If you live at or near the equator, you do not have the autumn season. The temperature stays the same all year long.

Halloween Facts

Halloween is the second most celebrated holiday in the US, next to Christmas
Halloween's origins trace back over 2,000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the harvest season.
Jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips and potatoes by Irish immigrants before pumpkins became the popular choice.
The world's largest pumpkin ever recorded weighed a staggering 2,624 pounds in 2016!
Black cats are often associated with Halloween superstitions, but in ancient times, they were considered good luck symbols.
The tradition of trick-or-treating evolved from the medieval practice of "souling," where people would pray for souls in exchange for food.

Thanksgiving Facts

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims and Native Americans to give thanks for their successful harvest.
The main dish of the first Thanksgiving wasn't turkey but was more likely to have been fish, venison, and other wild game.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer, and editor, played a significant role in making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States.
The famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924 with only a few floats and live animals!
The heaviest turkey ever recorded weighed a whopping 86 pounds, which is much larger than the average Thanksgiving turkey you see today!

Holidays in Fall

There are quite a few holidays that fall in the Autumn season. Some are more popular than others, fun, and HAPPY all the same.

September Holidays

September Holidays bring joy and excitement to the fall season with celebrations like Labor Day, Grandparents Day, and the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah.

National Wildlife Day- September 4th
National Cheese Pizza Day - September 5th
Patriot Day - September 11th
National Grandparents Day - September 11th
Kids Take Over Kitchen Day - September 13
National Play-Doh Day - September 16th
Labor Day (First Monday of September)
Chinese Moon Festival (15th day of the 8th month of the traditional Lunar calendar)
Rosh Hashanah (generally falls in the month of September, but actually falls between September 5th and October 5th)

October Holidays

October Holidays add a touch of magic to the autumn season, featuring festivities like Halloween, Columbus Day, and the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali.

International Coffee Day - October 1st
National Taco Day - October 4th
Cinnamon Roll Day - October 4th
World Octopus Day - October 8th
I Love Yarn Day - October 8th
Christopher Columbus Day - October 10th
National Apple Day - October 21st
National Candy Corn Day - October 30th
Halloween - October 31st
National Book Month
World Space Week
National Popcorn Poppin Month
National Dessert Month
National Origami Month
Yom Kippur (Typically occurs in September or October, it is the 10th Day after the start of Rosh Hashanah)
Diwali (lasts for five days, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. The exact dates are determined by the position of the moon, but it typically falls between October and November.)

November Holidays

November Holidays usher in the spirit of gratitude and togetherness during the fall season, with celebrations like Thanksgiving.

Day of the Dead - November 1st
National Sandwich Day - November 3rd
World Kindness Day - November 13
International Girls Day - November 14
World Peace Day - November 17
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday - November 18th
Minnie Mouse's Birthday - November 18th
National Princess Day - November 18th
National Adoption Day - November 23
Election Day - The Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November is when the United States has its presidential election
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday of November - United States National Holiday

Other Fun Fall Activities

In addition to these Fun Fall Facts for kids, the Fall season comes with colorful leaves and lots of fun holidays and activities. Kids' last chance to get out into nature before the chill of winter and celebrate all the fun holidays too. We have lots of different Fall crafts, printables, and coloring pages too!

Fall Crafts

These fun Fall Crafts inspire creativity and excitement in the season, with activities like making leaf art, decorating pumpkins, and crafting cozy decorations.