Autumn is here . . . well, almost!

When I was going to school, fall was always a new beginning. The days started to be cooler in September in Toronto and the leaves started to color and in October, they would be on the ground.

In Texas, school begins again in August and well, the leaves don’t do anything until they dry up and fall to the ground in late November or early December! It is still real hot now and we won’t be wearing jackets or coats for quite a while!

The seasons in Toronto are defined by weather. I was here in East Texas a long time before I thought about how we must look at the calendar to know what we are celebrating next!

Halloween is probably the biggest difference for me. Hubby and I sit out in front of our house with bowls of treats on tables.

Our subdivision is popular on October 31st. Pick-up trucks and vans loaded with children come in for trick or treating. A few years we have worn sweatshirts or cardigans, but you would not call it cold. The children streak across the grass to the candy – often six or seven at a time. Sometimes we recognize the parents with the young ones.

In Toronto, you put the candy inside the front hall, by your door. Each time the children ring the bell, yelling, “Trick or Treat”, you answer and hand out your treat (because presumably you don’t want a trick)!

When we were kids, we wore sweaters under our costumes and scampered two by two within a two block circumference of home. The best treats were down at the apartments because they weren’t expecting too many children.

No one goes to houses without lights on and so, when our treats are gone, we turn off the lights and go inside.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated the second Monday in October. In United States, it comes the fourth Thursday in November. When people ask about this, I point out to them the difference in harvest times. Our festive meals are similar with the exception of the turnip! East Texans would have a fit if you served them turnip and I still am not sure why! I sure do miss the turnip with the mashed potatoes and turkey! (Of course, Thanksgiving here also kicks off the Christmas season at the shops.)

So, the calendar defines the seasons for us here in the South. Especially in winter, I think a lot of people could adjust to that!