Autumn swings arms wide open to welcome saddened students to its cool, bucolic embrace

As the autumn chill rolls in, and leaves watch their greens morph to vibrant reds, yellow, and oranges, so too does the sweet smell of apple cinnamon and eerie fog of haunted houses descend. With the change of the weather comes the long-awaited return of fall’s most popular traditions and trends. Though for some, autumn is a dreadful season as the days grow longer, darker, and colder; the gloomy weather also generates a spooky, holiday counterpart. The return of the season brings scary movies, all-things pumpkin, and much more autumn cheer, or more so, fear. 

The change in Wisconsin’s weather as autumn grows near, warrants a change in clothing as well. Fall presents the perfect temperatures to pair summer fashion with that of the upcoming winter. For some this means pairing a simple tank-top with a cozy flannel, while others opt for wearing a skirt and sweater. The season’s fashion is often influenced by media, such as Gilmore Girls, the latest TikTok trends, and of course, Halloween horror movie classics. Whatever the case, autumn is the ideal season for warm-toned color palettes, which extends to its clothing. The season is often associated with soft, but dark shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, creating a calming aura surrounding all things autumnal.

However, this color palette isn’t exclusive to clothing, as fall decor often has a similar vibe. Autumnal decorations range from soft and cozy, to dark and spooky. The latter generally includes skulls, spiders, ghosts, and other bone-chilling items. This is a drastic contrast from the calmer decor, which typically consists of pumpkins, leaves, tealights, and all-things-cozy, such as plush blankets. Sometimes it can be hard to find good decor on a budget, which is why social media can be an amazing outlet to turn to for inspiration. In this case, social media apps have plenty of DIYs for cost-effective fall decor, such as homemade pumpkin figures and “floating” candles. 

Store-bought decorations, though stylish, can present environmental issues alongside their costly manner. For one, many people purchase or create fall decor with the intent of a one-time use, throwing it out when it’s onto the next season, contributing to the already overflowing landfills. A better alternative to this, is simply to re-use the decor, which is easy enough to store in a box in the basement, or anywhere else there is free space. For those who lack extra storage, the environmental challenges can be combated through making decor out of natural elements, such as leaves. This could look like covering leaves with Elmer’s Glue, which is biodegradable, and hanging them from a string to make a leaf garland that will last for the entirety of autumn, as West’s Green Alarm did last year. The garland can then be disposed of after fall starts to fade, making the decoration convenient for everyone, including Mother Nature. Not only is this an environmentally-friendlier and more cost-effective option, but creating decor can be a fun activity to do with family and friends. 

Creating decor isn’t the only good family-friendly activity related to fall, as the season as a whole brings many activities fit for all ages. One of these activities includes pumpkin patches, which often contain more than just that. Small-town farmers tend to “spice up” their pumpkin patches by cultivating things like corn mazes, curating haunted houses, and offering hay rides to their guests. While the act of picking out a pumpkin may seem dull to some, these additions to the classic activity make it unique and engaging for all. Arguably, an even more fun part of the pumpkin-picking process is getting to carve it. This element offers complete creative freedom and doesn’t require much (if any) artistic ability.

For those who are too spooked by pumpkin “guts” and would rather be watching the gore, horror movies are a great way to celebrate the season. Horror movie classics never get old, and can be watched repetitiously, year after year. Said movies include those such as Child’s Play, The Exorcist, Scream, and more. Many of these classic horror films, such as Saw, have inspired franchises, their endless production of sequels scarier than the movies themselves.

This media is not only limited to movies and books, as many horror series are great watches during the spooky season. A prime example of this is American Horror Story. While not all of its seasons fit the eerie fall vibe, “Coven” and “Murder House” are perfect Halloween watches. However, like the long movie franchises, the recent seasons of American Horror Story have become increasingly boring, and perhaps the life of the show should end, like the lives of most of its characters. Unlike the other models of its genre, The Haunting series, which consists of two individual shows, is exactly what horror media should be. The plots of both shows in the larger series are engaging, and the viewer is left to uncover the horrors of its homes alongside the characters.

For those who aren’t fans of thriller television and books, music is a great alternative within fall-related media. Many turn to music of years past, typically songs from the 70s and 90s. Popular autumnal songs include those of bands such as Fleetwood Mac, as well as independent artists such as Mazzy Star. Of course, current artists have influence in this as well, with songs like “Scott Street,” by Phoebe Bridgers, and “Ivy,” by Taylor Swift. Curling up with a fuzzy blanket and a pumpkin scented candle is the perfect way to spend a cool autumn night.

Overall, autumn is truly versatile in its activities, media, and more. It’s undeniably a season that everyone can find delightful, whether they’re attracted to the scares, or the nostalgia of the season through its warm spices and comfy sweaters.

by Emma Toney

Published October 30 2023

Oshkosh West Index Volume 120 Issue II