Fall has always been a special time for my family. Long before the pumpkin spice latte, I would wake up to the smell of pumpkin bread baking in the kitchen. I would walk out of my bedroom to an array of orange, yellow, red and brown transforming our home into seasonal space that rivaled Hobby Lobby’s fall decor.  To this day, I won’t officially transition into Fall until the first time I make pumpkin bread. Although I have moved away from home, I still look forward to going home for the holidays and being greeted by decorative leafs, pumpkins and the smell of a cinnamon broom.

As an adult, I have been able to build on these traditions. I love making my own applesauce from apples purchased from a farmer’s market or picked from an orchard. Halloween is also one of my favorite parts of the season. I always make sure to go all out with my costume and decorate my house with bats, skulls and pumpkins. My absolute favorite part of the season is Thanksgiving. Whenever I describe my family’s Thanksgiving to my friends, I tell them that it is a production. We start cooking the day before and make way more food than we could ever dream of eating. Everything is perfect, down to the leaf plates and the copious amount of dessert.

Every family has traditions, but most of my favorite family traditions involve Fall. This is one of the reasons why I love this season so much. I believe that it is really important to establish family traditions. Traditions contribute to a family’s identity and provide comfort and lasting memories. Traditions can also bring a family together in a really special and meaningful way. As I grow older and begin to create my own traditions, I will cherish the traditions of my childhood and the happy memories they have created for me.

-        Bria