Autumn colours mark the last breath of summer

Autumn colours reflected in the quiet waters in the Lake District

Autumn. As the heat of summer slips away and cool mists swirl across the fields and among the trees - a certain beauty takes over.

Autumn marks the transition from summer to winter. It is the season when daylight (in the northern hemisphere) becomes noticeably shorter and the temperature cools. Day length decreases and night length increases as earth's axis begins to tilt away from the sun.

Summer was about clear skies, heat, thriving, and flowering. Autumn is about ripened fruits, falling leaves, closing down, a gentle slide into darker days and the preparation for the cool and colder days of winter.

Rain now replenishes the summer-dry ponds and rivers. Spiders string webs between the remnant shapes of plants. The webs sparkle with early-morning dew, and later in the season - with first frosts.

A spider's web hangs heavy with dew

As temperatures drop, leaves change colour, animals forage for supplies and prepare for hibernation.

From the bright primary colours of the summer months, the autumn palette is one of russet, browns, saffron, vivid reds, and fading greens.

This is the season of rest. The earth rests, animals, plants and insects rest. It is a signal also that humans too need rest.

There is a certain stillness in the air as the pale amber sunlight falls on reddening October trees.

There is something quite magical and beautiful about this time of year; the sounds, the smells, and the breath-taking scene of trees in both town and country in autumn.

Before the 16th century 'harvest' was the term usually used to refer to the autumn season. But as more people moved from working the land to living in towns, the word 'harvest' lost its relevance and the word 'fall' began to replace it as reference to the season. The term 'fall' came to denote the season in 16th century England as an expression to describe the happenings in nature - 'fall of the leaf'.

Harvest time in autumn

In the 17th century, the English took with them the word 'fall' when they sought homes in the new North American colonies. The word 'fall' became common place there, but is less often used now in the UK.

The autumn months have always been seen as a period of transition and have been celebrated with rituals and festivals since ancient times.

The Celtic festival of Samhain (meaning 'summer's end') originally marked the shortening days and coming colder months. It was celebrated at the halfway point between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.

The Celts used this time to celebrate the harvest with feasting. At the same time, it marked the coming of winter - the 'darker half of the year'. The crops were harvested, fruit and vegetable stored, cattle brought down from summer pastures, and livestock slaughtered - all in preparation for winter and its dark days and harsh weather.

To mark Samhain, bonfires were lit, which were believed to have protective and cleansing powers, and drink and food were offered to appease pagan gods to ensure people and livestock survived the winter months.

Celebrations begin on the evening of October 31 and end at sunset on November 1st.

In the 9th century, the Catholic Church moved the festival of All Saints' Day (to commemorate Christian martyrs) to the same day as Samhain, November 1st. Celebrations for All Saints' Day also begin on the evening of October 31.

Over time, these two celebrations combined and are marked today as Halloween - All Hallows' Eve.