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Happy first week of fall! It’s finally time to pull those sweaters out of hibernation (unless you live on the equator) and watch the leaves morph into various shades of yellow and orange. Fall can be a gorgeous time of year but do you know the history behind it? Fear not my friends, we’ve compiled some fun fall facts to celebrate the day. Enjoy!

• Americans typically refer to this time of year as “fall,” while the British use the word “autumn.”
• Fall was called “harvest” because of the “harvest moon” that occurs when the full moon is closest to the autumn equinox.
• Weight gain around this time of year may not only be due to comforting fall foods like pumpkin pie and cider, researchers have found that lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage.
• According to The Weather Channel, pumpkins are the most craved food during the fall.
• The yellow and orange colors you see actually always exist in leaves, but they are overpowered by the abundance of green from chlorophyll. The amount of chlorophyll starts to decrease as the sun weakens and the days grow shorter.
• Many birds will prepare for their winter migration during the fall. The distance they can travel is impressive; the Arctic Tern travels 11,000 miles each way for it’s annual migration. That’s no small feat.
• Evergreen trees such as pines, cedars, and spruces stay green because their leaves (needles) are covered with thick wax and they contain materials that prevent freezing when it gets cold.