Not only did I grow up in a different country than where I currently live but also, the seasons are totally opposite! I grew up associating May with warm weather, not the frosty mornings that we are currently experiencing here in the southern half of South America.
There is a lot to love about living in Argentina. But, there is something I do dearly miss from my childhood in North America ~ the seasonal celebrations.
I know, I know, seasonal celebrations are not the first things that come to mind when the United States is mentions but, think about it ... what country celebrates Halloween with more enthusiasm?
Halloween isn't just a single day, it is anticipated weeks in advance, with indoor & outdoor decorations to instill a sense that fall has arrived. And then there is the other autumnal holiday of Thanksgiving which - despite its dark history - is a celebration of the harvests of fall before the coldest weather sets in.
Rather than just sit & reminisce about missing out on such collective observance that I once knew, I want to bring a bit of that fall cheer to my current home. A big aspect of bringing in inspiration & tradition is found in the pages of my collection of zines.
Because, no matter where I am on Earth, herbs and crafts are a part of my daily life. The plants I gather and the things I make with them are part of my personal traditions.
And then there are the harvests that so characterize fall. Chañar fruits that are local to the arid areas of Argentina, dried grapes and hops that are a part of fermentes drinks all over the world. I make bubbly drinks and healing tonics which are especially helpful as the cold weather sets in and the nights grow longer.
And that leads to more time spent writing in my journals and recording the knowledge gained from spring & summer. With the season of slowing down approaching there is more time to fill my herbal grimoire with enchantment.
These are just a few of my personal traditions to mark the season of fall. How do you celebrate the seasons?
