Recent Posts
-
After the feast… Julianna Rae Announces Giving Tuesday Beneficiary
2 days ago -
Our Exciting Holiday Gift Guide is Here! Luxurious Silk Sleepwear That’s not JUST for Sleeping!
5 days ago -
What’s a Twilly Scarf and How is it Worn?
1 week ago -
Good Morning! Easy Steps to Create a Fall Evening Routine for Better Mornings
2 weeks ago -
Apple Cider Love! A taste of fall with every sip
3 weeks ago -
Real-Life Frights – Things that are Way Scarier than Halloween!
1 month ago -
5 Spooky Ghost Stories Perfect for Your Next Campfire
1 month ago -
10 spine-chilling books to get you in the Halloween spirit
1 month ago -
The Seasonal Showdown: Is It Fall or is it Autumn? Understanding the Language of the Season
1 month ago -
Fall Into Couch Potato Mode: Fall is Here and it’s Your Official Excuse for Epic Napping and Pumpkin Spice Overload!
2 months ago -
Autumn Wedding Magic: Tips for a Stunning Event
2 months ago -
Eating Colorful: Embracing the Health Benefits of Seasonal Produce
5 months ago -
Silk Secrets: Expert Tips to Smoothing Out Wrinkles for a Flawless Look
6 months ago -
Welcome Spring! 7 Fascinating Facts about the Season, plus, A Daytime PJ Quick Guide
7 months ago -
Beyond Hot Flashes: Discovering Unexpected Menopause Symptoms
8 months ago -
Everyone Loves Extra Time – Take advantage of every hour this Leap Day!
9 months ago -
Eat your heart out! Show Your Passion with a Heart-Shaped Inspired Valentine’s Dinner
9 months ago -
Time for YOU! PAMPERING tips from self-love January to take with you all year!
10 months ago -
Dreamy Delights: Our Sleepwear and Lingerie Holiday Gift Guide is LIVE!
11 months ago -
20 Thanksgiving themed front door decorating ideas to welcome family and friends
1 year ago
The Seasonal Showdown: Is It Fall or is it Autumn? Understanding the Language of the Season
Hello October and a new season! Have you ever wondered whether you should use the word “fall” or “autumn” when referring to this time of year? Well, both terms are correct! Although seemingly trivial, whether to use the seasonal name “fall” or “autumn” is really an interesting intersection of language, culture, and history. Read on to find out why…
The word autumn derives from the Latin term autumnus. It’s use in England and dates back to the early 1300s and is found in works by both Chaucer and Shakespeare. By the 1600s, the more descriptive expression “fall of the leaf” appeared, created, some say, by poets who also used the label “spring of the leaf” to name the spring season. Later, these names were shortened to just fall and spring.
So which name should one use? Well, it all depends on where you live. In the United States and Canada, the term “fall” is used much more frequently whereas “autumn” is the preferred term in the UK and other English-speaking countries outside of North America.
You can understand this better by taking a snapshot of when English colonists began migrating to North America. Among the ideas, plants, animals, guns, iron tools, and weapons; Christianity and Roman law; sugarcane and wheat; horses and cattle brought over to America, the settlers also brought their language and current jargon. As the colonists developed their independence their language morphed, creating two distinct dialects – British English and American English. For some time, North Americans used both terms interchangeably. It wasn’t until the late-1800’s, when “fall” became the preferred choice to describe the season.
While no one knows exactly why North Americans chose “fall” over “autumn,” (maybe because it so aptly described our beautiful New England Octobers!), with time the colonists made many word choices to separate the two dialects. Today, the differences are many; jumper/sweater, bin/garbage can, pavement/sidewalk, boot/trunk…so many, in fact, the great English writer, George Bernard Shaw humorously noted that the United States and the United Kingdom are “two countries divided by a common language”
So, hooray for FALL and all that comes with it including pumpkins, Halloween, pretty leaves… and for our UK brothers and sisters, cozy jumpers, and football! See you in the next blog!
Deb Fries works with the Julianna Rae team to offer the best shopping experience for quality silk and cotton sleepwear while also writing for the blog at Juliannarae.com.