© Shutterstock

Fall was once called "harvest" -

During the 12th and 13th century, fall was called haerfest in Middle English, which later developed into "harvest." This is because autumn is the end of the growing season, so farmers would harvest their crops.

© Shutterstock

The origin of the term "fall" -

In the early 17th century, people started moving into cities, which made the term "harvest" diminish. Instead, they started saying "fall of the leaf" to refer to the season. Overtime, the term was shortened to "fall."

© Shutterstock

Fall colors depend on how much sugar is in the leaves -

Fall leaf colors are caused by certain pigments in the leaves. Different kinds of trees produce different pigments. Purple and red leaves are caused by the anthocyanins pigment, which is only produced in the fall, when sugars are trapped in the leaves. Dry weather and sunlight will lead to more sugar in the leaves, making them bright red.

© Shutterstock

But leaves don't really change colors -

Surprisingly, all of those colors have always been there, but they just don't come out until conditions are right. Leaves are full of chlorophyll, a natural chemical that makes them green. Leaves depend on the Sun, so when there's less sunshine, chlorophyll isn't produced as much. This makes the green color fade, allowing their natural color to come out.

© Shutterstock

We love pumpkin for the feeling, not the taste -

Autumn is practically synonymous with pumpkins, but why are people so obsessed with them? Representing farm life and tradition, studies have shown that it's all about the nostalgia they make people feel, and not their taste.

© Shutterstock

People born in autumn are more likely to live longer -

A 2011 study analyzed the birth months of centenarians and compared them to the birth months of their shorter-lived siblings. The data showed that people born between September and November were more likely to live to 100.

© Shutterstock

The beginning of autumn in Greek mythology -

In Greek mythology, fall began when Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, goddess of nature and harvest, was kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld. He fell in love with Persephone and wanted her to be his queen. Demeter was so upset about her daughter being kidnapped that she caused all the crops to die until Persephone could return, marking the start of spring.

© Shutterstock

Global warming could ruin fall foliage -

Leaf colors are highly affected by temperature, light, and water supply. So if temperatures remain too warm, it will delay leaves from showing their natural colors.

© Shutterstock

We have an instinct to fall in love in autumn -

Let's be honest: fall makes you really want to cuddle with someone! Research actually shows that colder weather makes people want to get closer to others. It also ignites the desire to find a relationship.

© Shutterstock

Bobbing for apples was once a British courting ritual -

A popular party game during autumn, bobbing for apples actually started as a British courting ritual. Men were assigned an apple, and women would bob for them, trying to get the right apple from the man she was interested in. If she did, it signified they were meant for each other.

© Shutterstock

Children born in autumn do better in school -

Research has shown that children who are born during autumn are more likely to do better in school. However, it's not clear exactly why that is.

© Shutterstock

Leaves fall because of hormones -

As the leaves' exposure to light decreases in the fall, they start to produce a hormone that boosts the growth of a cell between the stem and the leaf. This is why they fall off the trees.

© Shutterstock

It's the best time to see the aurora borealis -

If you're dreaming of getting a glimpse of the aurora borealis, autumn is the right time for it. Just make sure to head to the right location.

© Shutterstock

Heart attacks drop in the fall -

Gaining an hour during the autumn equinox is actually good for us. According to scientific research, the rate of heart attacks for Americans is known to fall on the Monday following the end of daylight savings time.

© Shutterstock

The Celts wore costumes to scare off ghosts -

Halloween is an incredibly popular holiday that's been around for centuries. However, the celebration used to be a bit darker. The Celts believed that on the night before Halloween, the boundary between the living and the dead disappeared. In response, they started wearing scary costumes in order to scare away the ghosts that walked the Earth on Halloween.

© Shutterstock

Kids who are born in the fall are more athletic -

Researchers at the University of Essex in the UK discovered that kids born in the fall are more athletic. This is because when their mothers were pregnant, they had a lot more Sun exposure, which helps the body produce more vitamin D. This results in the kids having stronger bones.

© Shutterstock

Fallen leaves protect newly planted seeds in the ground all winter -

Those fallen leaves insulate the seeds in the ground below. They also provide them with nutrients as they break down and decay.

© Shutterstock

You need a lot of apples to make apple cider -

A popular autumn beverage, keeping up with the demand for fresh cider requires a lot of apples. Just one gallon (4.5 liters) of apple cider requires 36 apples.

© Shutterstock

The Irish didn't carve pumpkins -

Much like Halloween costumes, people started carving vegetables to scare off evil spirits around Halloween. Instead of pumpkins, however, the Irish used to carve faces into turnips, beets, or potatoes.

© Shutterstock

Kids born in fall might be taller -

Studies have found that kids born in late summer and early autumn are slightly taller on average than kids born in the winter and spring. This also probably because their mothers were exposed to more vitamin D while being pregnant during the summer.

© Shutterstock

You can spot a harvest moon -

The full moon that occurs during the autumn equinox is much brighter and rises earlier than a typical full moon. Also known as the harvest moon, its early moonlight has long been helpful to farmers as they harvest summer crops.

© Shutterstock

It's the best time for picking apples -

From apple cider to apple pie, apple picking is a big activity during fall. Known for apples, Washington state harvested around 135 million boxes of apples for the 2019 season.

© Shutterstock

Our libido increases during fall -

Another reason why you may feel the urge to get into a relationship during the fall is because it's the season when testosterone levels in both men and women spike. When testosterone levels increase, libido increases as well.

© Shutterstock

Fall foliage is a major money-maker -

Fall foliage is so beautiful that it's even its own tourist industry altogether. The northeastern US has such beautiful foliage that it's become known as a popular leaf peeping destination. For example, 3.5 million tourists travel to Vermont each year during autumn, which results in US$460 million each fall.

© Shutterstock

Pumpkin spice doesn't taste like pumpkin -

Real pumpkin generally just tastes like squash. Pumpkin spice, on the other hand, is a flavor mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, dry ginger, and cloves.

© Shutterstock

Kids born in autumn might be more likely to have asthma -

Studies have found that babies born in the fall are 30% more likely to have asthma compared to babies born at other times. It's believed it might be because these babies are born right before winter, which is peak season for colds and viruses. And because their immune systems are still vulnerable, it's easier for them to develop asthma.

© Shutterstock

Catching a falling leaf can bring you good luck -

Not only are autumn leaves beautiful to look at, but there's also a popular belief that as many falling leaves as one can catch in one hand, as many happy months will follow.

© Shutterstock

The Earth's distance from the Sun has nothing to do with fall -

The shorter days experienced during fall doesn't mean Earth is further away from the Sun. Fall is caused by the Earth's tilt in relation to the Sun. When the South Pole starts to tip towards the Sun, weather cools in the Northern Hemisphere.

© Shutterstock

There's a distinct fall scent that you can only smell in certain months -

Everyone knows fall has a distinct smell, but it can be hard to describe it. Experts have figured out that the smell is partially due to the leaves. When they fall, they die, taking their last "breath." This is when they release that distinct smell.

© Shutterstock

You can watch birds migrating -

Fall is when many bird species migrate to warmer climates. While each species follows its own particular path, there are a few spots bird watchers are likely to catch a few flocks on their annual trip. 

Sources: (Redbook) (Find It Health)

See also: Fun fall activities to try this year 

© Shutterstock