How to Celebrate Autumn in Germany

Autumn is a little different this year.  No one’s talking about Halloween costumes or hanging fake ghosts and cobwebs from their doorways.  The stores aren’t selling fake spiders and bats.  And I’ve only seen a few Halloween garlands for sale at a place called McPaper.  So while everyone in the US and Canada are decking out for the autumn holidays, we’re not here.

In fact, most doorways in Berlin, Germany are looking about like this right now:

I’m not disappointed or sad about the season here.  It’s still my favorite time of year, and I kind of expected Germans not to go all-out in their seasonal decor.  Halloween is slowly gaining popularity, and Thanksgiving, well that’s obviously a very American and Canadian holiday, so no turkey decor and nicknacks.  Holidays are a little different here.  I thought I’d be sad by this change, but I’m not.

I’m learning how to embrace the season a little differently.

This year, it isn’t about the Halloween candy or fake cobwebs.  It’s a season of embracing harvest and the beauty of our surroundings.  My favorite part of this season in Berlin is the outdoor markets.  They were fun in the summer, but now they feel magical.  People walk home with bags filled with apples and squashes.  They carry fresh, beautiful bouquets of autumn flowers, and kids scoop up the piles of leaves and stomp through them.  One kid I saw was heartbroken because his mom wouldn’t let him bring his handful of new-found leaves into the bakery where she wanted to get some apple and plum cakes when the bakers at the market had sold out.  This is autumn in Berlin.

I love my new home!  …even if pumpkin is being sold by the chunk for baking (above) instead of carving.

(Image by Katie for Making This Home)