How Germany prepares for autumn — The Local Germany
With the arrival of autumn in Germany, daily habits change: people take out scarves and mid-season jackets, choose seasonal products and spend time outdoors. Meteorological autumn in the country begins on September 1, while September 23 marks the autumn equinox — the day when daytime and nighttime are equal in length, The Local Germany reports.
Autumn weather in the country can be warm and sunny during the day, but temperatures drop quickly at night, in the morning or under cloudy skies. Therefore, a scarf, or Schal, and an Übergangsjacke — a jacket for the transitional season between summer and winter — become common items of clothing.
Harvest festivals and seasonal cuisine
At the beginning of October, Germany traditionally celebrates Erntedankfest — a harvest thanksgiving festival. On the first Sunday of the month, communities may hold church services, parades and fairs, and in some cases collect food for people in need. Such events are particularly widespread in rural areas.
In autumn, pumpkin, plums and onions appear on German menus. Restaurants prepare, among other dishes, pumpkin soups and Flammkuchen with pumpkin. The pumpkin festival in Ludwigsburg runs until October 31. From October 9 to 11, an onion festival is set to take place in Weimar, where Zwiebelkuchen — a savory onion pie — is served.
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For the sweet table, Pflaumenkuchen and Zwetschgenkuchen — plum pies — are popular. Zwetschgen are smaller and darker than ordinary plums. They are traditionally paired with Kaffee und Kuchen — coffee and pastries.
Walks and home comfort
The publication recommends taking walks in forests in autumn, cycling to lakes and visiting the Baltic Sea coast, where it may be somewhat quieter after the summer peak. The Kellerwald-Edersee National Park in Hesse is mentioned among destinations for walks. Mushroom picking is also a popular activity, but it is recommended to do so together with someone who can identify poisonous mushrooms.
Cafes and restaurants may keep outdoor terraces open for as long as possible, offering guests blankets and lighting candles indoors in the evening. The heating season in Germany usually lasts from October 1 to April 30. According to the German Tenants' Association, a landlord must ensure an indoor temperature of 20–22°C during the day, while at night it may drop to around 18°C.
Autumn activities also include watching German films and series, going to the cinema and flying kites. Open spaces are recommended for this, including the Tempelhofer Feld field in Berlin or the Olympic Park in Munich.
