Written by Andie Serrao
Photography by Thea Wiener
Fall is a bittersweet season that can evoke a range of emotions. It brings people to reflect on the past, relive heartfelt memories, and establish a connection with the changing seasons. Fall invites us to set off on a journey through time, memory, and sentimentality as the leaves change from green to vivid hues of red and orange as the air grows cold with the promise of winter. The charming "fall nostalgia" phenomenon allows us to connect to the past while enjoying the present. These feelings can produce a sense of happiness and gratitude for what made you happy in the past and continue it in the future.
Fall's sensory sensations, such as sipping pumpkin spice lattes and eating a slice of warm apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, evoke sentiments of earlier autumns. Recollections are sparked by the sight of falling leaves, the crisp air, and the approach of the holiday season. Between the food, movies, and traditions, fall conjures up memories of our childhood, get-togethers, and customs for many. The distinctive flavors and aromas of the season bring in thoughts of the coziness and warmth of the past. There are many traditions and festivities in the fall as families and friends often get together during holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and fall festivals, which can bring up special memories. The joy of trick-or-treating with friends, pumpkin picking with cousins, going to cider mills, or gathering around the table for the Thanksgiving meal are all connected to the nostalgia of fall.
When nostalgic, It can be comforting to embrace the feeling and take moments to reminisce on your favorite falltime memories. These memories could include happy seasonal activities or memorable childhood experiences like the tradition of making apple turnovers every year with your siblings or old laughs shared with your best friend on the walk home from school as the leaves crunched beneath your feet when you fought for the best character to be in the friend group's Halloween costume. Maybe jumping into the pile of leaves your dad ranked for you and your sister or the tantrums thrown after hearing your mom say that you need to wear a long-sleeved shirt under your costume, ruining it entirely. Heading upstate to go apple picking when your dad was the only one tall enough to reach the apples and them turning out to all be rotten because you went too late in the season. The feeling of thinking you were brave enough to go into the haunted house because your older cousins did but then backing out at the last minute. Even though fall nostalgia can focus on the past, you can also enjoy the season by creating brand-new experiences that you'll treasure forever like taking trips with friends to spooky towns like Sleepy Hollow, New York, or Salem, Massachusetts. You can make a scrapbook of your fall memories to record your experience. You can also keep these memories alive by sharing your traditions with others.
Fall nostalgia is a lovely and incredibly intimate emotion that connects us to the past and deepens our present. Being able to share something that gives us joy with others we love is important as it keeps traditions alive. We experience our transformations as the seasons change, shaped by the memories and feelings that each season brings. So, while you observe the leaves shedding and feel the coolness in the air, savor the nostalgia of fall for a moment. With the separation of your present from your past, you can wrap yourself in a warm and cozy blanket of memories all year long.
Written by Andie Serrao
Photography by Thea Wiener
Talent: Jazzi Almestica, Jake Pranian, Lucy Anderson, Sophia Querrazzi, Mark Bluemle