(LOH 149) September Full Of Vibrant Colors, Joy, and Celebrations

"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With Summer's best of weather and Autumn's best of cheer."

There's a song that says, "Wake me up when September ends." But why would I wake up when September ends? I would be missing a lot of fun and celebrations. Ever since I was in my home country, I always looked forward to welcoming September, because for us Filipinos, it is the start of our long festive season. For sure, people would start unpacking their long-kept Christmas decorations by the start of September, and carols would fill the houses, malls, stores, and even public transportation.

That's what I missed when I came here to Hong Kong. However, some things excite me about welcoming September. It may not be the start of the Christmas season here, but it's the start of my favorite season, autumn. And as September comes, there will be more celebrations that will follow until the end of the year.

Before the autumn season starts, let's not forget about spring. It ended beautifully on my side of the world, and I witnessed the HK Flower Show again after four years of hiatus. The place was filled with colors and sweet scents from blooming flowers. This season is also the start of the year when the skies become brighter and the weather warmer. A symbol of a new beginning and better days ahead.

Summer might be a little irritating sometimes because of the scorching weather and rainy days it gives us. But we can't deny the fact that it gives us the chance to enjoy basking under the sun by the beach, and set off for a getaway with family and friends. Furthermore, those annoying rainy days are important, particularly for farmers who labor diligently only to provide food for us.

And here comes the autumn season!

In the previous year, I experienced the SummerFest in September. For some reason, the event for the summer was moved to the autumn. During this event, there is a little escape market by the harbor front in Central. Alongside are some shows and events that entertain visitors and allow them to spend quality time with their families.

However, I just found out that I missed the SummerFest this year, which was held last month 🥲. I thought it would be held in September again, so I didn't bother checking about the event earlier. Anyway, there is still next year.

Bountiful Harvest, A Blessed Season

September is a blessed season, especially for farmers, because it is when they have a bountiful harvest. Fields of crops have turned golden, and trees are full of ripe fruits that are ready to be reaped. A harvest season that should be celebrated not just by farmers but by everyone as we all consume the harvested crops and fruits.

So here in Hong Kong as well as in other Chinese regions and Asian countries, a celebration that is anticipated during September is the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is to give thanks for the bountiful harvest and to worship the harvest-giving God, so the same fruitful harvest will come again in the following year. It's more like a Thanksgiving celebration.

Families gather around and celebrate the blessings they receive throughout the year. My favorite part of this festival is the moon cake eating. It's an auspicious food that symbolizes reunion and completeness. It is a food that is always present at every table during the festival celebration. I wonder, though, if we will buy more this year since all my boss' children are now in the UK.

Another thing I liked about the Mid-Autumn Festival is the colorful lantern decorations in different houses and popular temples. The one below is taken from Wong Tai Sin Temple, one of the biggest temples for Taoists and a place to worship their god.

This is popular as many believe that their prayers will be granted if they worship here. Aside from houses and temples, different parks will be decorated with beautiful lanterns. And I'm looking forward to seeing Lingnan Garden again on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Moon gazing is also part of the festival where the moon is full and beautiful, and I love this part too.

Transition Of The Season. The Vibrant Autumn Foliage.

My favorite part of September is the transition of the season and the transformation of the greenery into autumn foliage. The blend of green, red, yellow, and orange creates a magnificent view that I always look forward to capturing. My camera is ready to capture the autumn foliage in the woods.

And now that autumn is approaching, there'll be calmer weather, which is perfect for going back to trails. Who is excited? None other than me. I've been waiting for the summer to end faster so I could visit the woods again. It's been a while since I hiked a mountain, and I stopped when the weather became so hot. It is not advisable to climb a mountain because of the many cases of heat stroke in the summer.

There's a mountain that is popular to visit during the autumn season, the Sweet Gum Woods and Tai Lam nature trails. Some of the photos above were taken on this nature trail. But I have travel plans for the autumn season, and I wouldn't be going back to this trail. Hopefully, my plans won't just stay as plans, just like what happened last year, lol. Hopefully, I could materialize them this time. There are still a lot of beautiful places I have yet to explore. They are silently waiting for me, so I must go! Haha.

I can now imagine the view as the autumn season starts. Some mountains would turn brown and golden. Some would turn colorful in autumn colors. Leaves would fall, carpeting the ground. I find it rustic, enchanting, and magical. That's the main reason why I love this season. It's turning the world into a fantasy land, and I wanted to be Alice, who explores the wonderland.

This is in response to @elizabethbit topic for the LOH 149 Contest.

September is coming! For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the onset of Autumn is just around the corner. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be Spring! Please state which hemisphere you live in and what your favorite thing about September is. Please provide pictures as well!

You can check the link if you want to join as well.