Autumn. Beautiful, colorful, gorgeous autumn. Today is the first day of Autumn; the Autumnal Equinox. Twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. A perfectly halved day. There is more to this day though. More than just astronomical, much, much more. Indeed, Autumn has been treated throughout history in many different ways.
One of these ways is in celebration of the harvest. What better way to celebrate the gathering of crops which would supply the people with food through the long winter months, than with a festival? Harvest festivals were important to the people of the past for it meant that life would be sustained, when the land would lie fallow and rest under a blanket of snow. It was a time of celebration and joy. Suppliants to the gods were made and the people grew in superstition and faith which we still adhere to today. Oh, we pretend that we are just having fun and at times ridiculing those in the past, but in truth we too, pray to our gods for a good harvest and we celebrate the blessings we have received through the year. Giving thanks for all we have and at the same time, following through with superstitious actions in order to ward off evil.
Another autumnal diversion is the pilgrimage to view the changing colors of leaves and the beauty this season brings. The oranges, reds, and yellows of tree leaves fill the countrysides with people exploring the majesty of nature. In turn, the highways and byways are loaded with opportunities to catch the blazing glory in a photograph which can then be boasted of and devoured by the multitude who are unable to see nature's changing wardrobe in person.
Then if catching nature's colorful display isn't enough to fill one's autumn love, there are the various odes, poems, edicts, and other literature which try to capture the emotional and mental aspects of this season. Yet, while the harvest and changing colors are celebrated, writers often focus on a more sorrowful view of autumn. The thoughts of the coming of winter with it's association with death are found woven through the writings concerned with autumn. This brings an amplitude of sorrow and premonitions of death which symbolizes the ageing process of humanity and the limited life span we have.
Yes, these three divergent ways of contemplating autumn are highly symbolic with all life cycles on this planet. Humanity finds itself afraid of the aspects of autumn, for it has meant the "middle age" of life, closing in on winter or old age. Now me, I don't look at autumn in this last thought. Autumn means to be a time of beauty, glory, and majesty. It is a time of change and growth. Yes, growth! Autumn isn't just about the onset of death and sorrow. No, that is one reflection of humanity. Autumn is about celebration! Nature, itself is making merry and enjoying a revelry based upon growth and change. The summer is over, the harvest is in, and the cooler weather brings a rush of relief from the long hot summer days.
Melancholy? No! Spending time together is easier to do. Being outside, feeling the cool air, and enjoying a walk in a park is a release from the heat which summer produced. The air, the colors, the delicious produce fill the days and nights with fun and dreams of the festivities to come! Autumn! The middle age? Maybe, but more exactly it is a season and symbol of life, of festivals, of laughter, of togetherness, and of hope. Autumn, the Beautiful Glory of Life and Seasons!
No comments:
Post a Comment