Fall Holidays You Never Knew About
During fall, there’s one particular holiday that gets all the attention: Halloween. But there’s more to fall than scary movies, costumes, and candy. Of course, fall has a lot going for it already, but there’s nothing wrong with finding a few extra reasons to celebrate. Whether random holidays or large cultural celebrations, here are seven holidays worth celebrating this fall.
National Lazy Mom’s Day, First Friday of September
First things first: Moms are NOT lazy. However, don’t they deserve one day to relax and let someone else do all the hard work? National Lazy Mom’s Day is observed on the first Friday of September every year. Ideally, it should serve as a family reminder to lend a hand that day and do something to make the day less stressful for mom, whether that mom is yourself or your own mother. And don’t let anyone say, “You have Mother’s Day to get spoiled.” You still have to be a mom on Mother’s Day, after all, and you may not even have a chance to relax. So, either spoil yourself or spoil your own mom on National Lazy Mom’s Day this year. Get the day started with a gift of new women’s loungewear to get her into relaxation mode.
Mid-Autumn Festival
This festival is second only to Chinese New Year in the Chinese culture. According to the Chinese calendar, it falls on the 15th day of the eighth month, which is either September or October, depending on the Gregorian calendar year. Mid-Autumn festival is all about celebrating with and reuniting with family. Celebrations include eating dinner together, sharing moon cakes, and then heading outdoors to snuggle up under a warm, fleece throw blanket and watch the moon shine bright as a family.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is an annual German festival that is held during the last two weeks of September until the first Sunday in October. Although it’s typically celebrated in Munich, Germany, it is also celebrated across the United States in cities with German heritage. Beer, German food, music, and traditional German clothing are all significant parts of Octoberfest. But you don’t need to wear a dirndl or lederhosen to fit in. Some comfortable women's jeans and sneakers are all you need to polka around the dance floor.
National Do Something Nice Day, October 5th
It’s amazing how one thoughtless comment or careless act can affect your entire day. We all make mistakes, though, and sometimes people just need a little reminder to simply be nice. The good thing is that one random act of kindness can turn into thousands, thanks to the pay-it-forward effect. So start October 5th out right by doing something kind for someone, whether it’s giving a compliment, buying someone a cup of coffee, supporting a good cause, or even being kind to yourself!
National Plus-Size Appreciation Day, October 6th
This day is a great opportunity to honor our individual body sizes and shapes. The definition of plus-size has evolved, and one great way to define it is “a size that honors and flatters a woman’s unique shape.” If you’re between sizes and buying a size larger is considered “plus-size,” but best fits your curves, so be it. It’s how the clothes fit and feel on you that matter. Size is just a number, and National Plus-Size Appreciation Day is the perfect day to remind yourself that. Or remind your shopping partner-in-crime by inviting her to the mall for some retail therapy. The beginning of October is a great time to go shopping for plus-size sweaters and flannels.
Diwali
Diwali is a five-day festival that’s largely popular in India and among the Hindu religion. While the dates change each year, it usually runs from the end of October to the beginning of November. Also called the Festival of Lights, Diwali is an important time for seeing loved ones, treating yourself to new clothes, exchanging gifts, feasting on good food, decorating the yard with string lights and lanterns, and watching amazing fireworks displays at nighttime.
Dia de Los Muertos
Translating to “Day of the Dead,” Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican and Latin-American celebration that is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. Essentially, it’s a time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed. There are many ways to celebrate during these two days, but the most popular thing to do is create temporary altars called “ofrendas,” where you place the photos of deceased loved ones and any items you associate with them.
It is said that the deceased relatives then come and visit their families for two days, starting at 12 a.m. on November 1st. Sugar skulls, butterflies, and floral decor are popular around this time, so find yourself a cool sugar skull apparel such as a fashion scarf or jewelry, and join in on the celebration.
With these fall holidays to celebrate, who needs Halloween!