Top 10 Fun Fall Facts

Yes, Fall is officially here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey. The days are getting a little bit cooler, and a few leaves are beginning to fall from the trees around our self storage yard. We’re also beginning to notice our storage customers placing summer storage items back into their rental spaces, and pulling out their Fall /  Halloween decorations. We love Fall here at The Storage Inn – It is a time to meet local students returning for the fall College semester, as well as folks who have put off their moving day until the hot weather chilled out!

Here are ten great facts about this wonderful season that will both inform and entertain you. Shoot, you may even get a chance to sound smart while sippin’ on that pumpkin spice latte.

1. Americans typically refer to this time of year as “Fall,” while the British use the word “Autumn.”
Historically, Fall was originally called “harvest” because of the “harvest moon” that occurs close to the autumn equinox.

2. Fall is caused by the Earth’s tilt, not our distance from the sun.
When the northern hemisphere tilts towards the sun, we get warmer. When it tilts away, we get colder. Fall and spring are the times of transition.

3. Weight gain around this time of year may not be from all the food.
Researchers have found that lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage. So, the lack of sunlight has more to do with the extra gain than all the pumpkin spice lattes. Well, at least some of it.

4. Pumpkin spice does not contain pumpkin
Pumpkin spice is actually the spice mix used for pumpkin pies. It is made from 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg, 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice and 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves. You can make it at home or buy it pre-mixed at the grocery store.

5. Fall colors are caused by the amount of sugar in leaves.
The more red in the leaf, the more sugar that leaf is storing. That is why Maple trees are so vibrant. Evergreens don’t change because their leaves have a thick wax covering that protects the chlorophyl (green) in the leaves.

 

6. Fall is for lovers.
More people go from “single” to “in a relationship” or “engaged” in fall than any other season. That may be because both men and women experience a higher level of testosterone in the colder months. We don’t have a great answer as to why that is, but more babies are conceived in cold months than any other time of year.

7. Ancient people wore Halloween costumes to hide from ghosts
The Celtic tradition believed that ghosts roamed the earth on Halloween. Wearing a disguise would help you avoid these spirits.

8. Birds spend most of the fall migrating.
Whether traveling from one state to another, from North America to South America like Swainson’s Hawk (14,000 miles), or from the North Pole to the South Pole like the Arctic Tern (44,000 miles), many birds spend this season traveling to mating grounds or finding food.

9. Fall tourism, aka “leaf peeping,” brings in big money for New England states.
The seasonal change brings around $3 billion in tourism dollars to the small region.

10. Children born in the fall are statistically better students and live longer.
According to the Department of Education and the University of Chicago, Fall is the best time to be born.

So, there ya’ go – some Fun Fall Facts from The Storage Inn. You can take it from me (I was born in the Fall), whether biking, hiking of just sitting around the campfire. Autumn is Awesome – Enjoy!