We are still in second summer here in Tucson. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean I live in a fantasy land, a Shire where there are second breakfasts and such, though that would be nice. The reality of Autumn expectations rarely match up to the calendar or cultural expectations for what the harvest season should be. Seasons and seasonal observations vary greatly with place as well as with stage of life.
School Year Starts in the Summer
Students are back in school and have been for a while here in Arizona. Tucson Unified School District started classes on July 31st. Amphitheater School District started on August 7th. From what I can tell from perusing articles from news sources as well as a small statistically biased sampling of school calendars in both the eastern and western United States, most schools start during the month of August. The more wealthy the population, the later the school for an area starts, it seems. The start of school, Labor Day, and the fall are linked for most of us in the U.S., but why? Any real linkage that might have once existed has disappeared over the last few decades.
Seasons
There are many kinds of seasons including calendrical, cultural, and climatological. Solstice and equinox were up until recently my default criteria for talking about seasons, but now I tend to view the seasons as centering on these celestial linked dates and beginning and ending at times that our culture no longer recognizes but which are clearly evident in more traditional, folk, or ancient ways of knowing such as the Northern European one shown here:
We celebrate the reprieve that autumn brings here in Tucson in the way that spring is celebrated in more northern climes.
Individual Views of Seasons
I often write about fall. Poetry tends to capture most of my autumnal musings about the evocative nature of lengthened, softened slant of light that October brings but I also blog about the season with some regularity.
In the early years of my life fall was the time of harvest, the hunter’s moon, seasonal depression, the start of the time of year when Mom had time to focus on me (which often was not a good thing,) birthdays of close friends, lovers and elders. The stark, almost bleak sense of stasis or dormancy, of waiting colored the months of October and November. These months seemed something like a pencil retouched photograph from the late 1800s, all shades of black and gray with soft touches of unreal color.
But these last many years, since moving to Tucson, Fall has become Autumn. Autumn in Tucson is a time of wonder: perfect days to play hooky and warm oneself on a granite rock ledge in Sabina Canyon as hints of coming coolness whisper in the breeze, preparation for late and winter gardens, evenings spent outdoors on patios with sunsets, friends and perfect weather. Preparation for the All Souls Procession alters the angle of perspective of the season in that unique way only Tucson can.
We come out as a community to express and acknowledge, mourn, celebrate, commemorate, inspire and be inspired by transition, all that has come before, personal loss, personal growth and our connectedness to the land and blending of culture that the Goddess of this place has provided as a home to those of us fortunate enough to be allowed to live some bit of our lives here in the shadow of mountains where the rivers used to flow.
Fall was once a depressing time for me, but the perspective and rituals that celebrate the place and perspective here in southern Arizona have changed that. Beautiful and poignant, that is autumn in Tucson.
I think we are programmed, no matter where we land geographically, to view fall as a pivot point and chance at a fresh starts. I absolutely love by the idea that we can both “inspire and be inspired by transition”. What a hopeful statement Nancy and one that is very motivating! Thank you for sharing your perspective!
Yes! Ruth, we tend to give meaning and thus our action to places and time we recognize and associate with people, events, and emotions as cycles repeat.
I’m a fan of fall. I love it when we can see and smell it on the horizon. I especially love the light. You know, I call my writing portfolio “The August Project” because it is about that moment of our life that matches autumn. Much is done, but more is to come.
“The August Project,” LOVE it!
I live in the northeast and traditionally I do get depressed during the fall and winter. I am working on changing that. Fall is beautiful here and I do love the traditions.
My grandchildren start school tomorrow.
Wow, not until tomorrow? That is latest I’ve heard of. Fall colors are wonderful. I just drive up the mountain to enjoy autumn color, then back down to the Tucson basin for perfect weather.
Although fall is filled with beautiful colors here in Connecticut, I am sad, since it ushers in my least favorite season – winter!
One of the best things about Tucson, mild winters! I detest “lake effect” snow.
I just love Autumn, the weather, the leaves changing, a new beginning to a wonderful season. I have never been to Tucson in the Autumn, I would love to see the All Souls Procession. Maybe, this Autumn.
The procession is a 21st century community reinterpretation of the Dia de los Muertos traditions of this area. It is amazing. Last year I met some women from Philly who happened upon the procession and were moved beyond words. They say there will be 100,000 in or watching or both… the people who line the streets to watch the procession usually join in at the “end.” And people are beginning to come from all over the world to participate so that they can share the life and loss of loved ones. Coming to Tucson for this procession is a wonderful idea!
If my kids were still in high school, they wouldn’t be starting until next Monday! That’s about the latest start date I’ve ever heard of.
That is late! Areas in in and around DC, NY, and parts of California are late starters. My daughter’s graduate program in WI just started Yesterday.
Fall is my favorite time of the year, whether called FALL or AUTUMN. I’m in Colorado and it’s LOVELY in the fall. I just spoke with my Arizona-living daughter yesterday and she was lamenting the triple-digit temps while I boasted about hovering around 80 degrees here. Crossing my fingers Autumn will reach her part of the state soon. You make it sound lovely. 😀
It did get to triple digits again yesterday. Ugh. But October and April are usually perfect! I just couldn’t handle CO snow after all these years in Baja AZ.
Fall has always been my favorite season, especially growing up on the East Coast, where traveling to watch the leaves change color is an exciting activity! Since moving to Southern California, the season doesn’t have quite the same drama although it is the time I’m often most productive and feel like a fresh start is in the air.
I will always love Spring in the Midwest best of all… wildflowers and morels, budding trees and flowing streams, but a change in location changes our perceptions doesn’t it?
I lived in Tucson for many years! My children were born there! It is a wonderful place. Now that I am in San Diego, I do feel like I get to experience the seasons a bit more. I like the change of season…not interested in the eastern winters….but I love fall — sweaters and coats!
I too, Ellen, gave birth to a native Tucsonan. It is a special place, and seasons are definitely different here, including the number of seasons we have!
Fall is my absolutely favorite time of year. In any part of the nation.
You would love the All Souls Procession and have even more reason to think the season is special!
I too live in the desert so it doesn’t feel like Autumn until Halloween rolls around. I am still very much in Summer mode over here. Great reading about the seasons!
Which desert? I’m moving out of summer mode, and wondering how long fall will be. Some years it is summer ’til November almost instantly followed by winter.