Don’t we all love fall? The warm glow that comes from all the leaves on the ground, the comeback of pumpkin spice, the fact that it’s time to break out the sweaters and UGGs? Maybe it’s the return of football season and the idea of dressing up for the themes! But have you ever noticed a specific feeling of nostalgia around this time of year? Maybe as if the previous fall felt so recent, yet so long ago?
Well, let’s dive deeper into this!
I decided to do some research on the psychology behind this, and here’s what I found.
This feeling you might have has a lot to do with memories. When we were younger, fall and spooky season were one of the best times of the year at school. We all got to wear our costumes, there were often Halloween parties with food and desserts, the excitement of trick-or-treating floating around, and much more. (Weir).
Now let’s just talk about seasonal nostalgia, because this could go for any season, now that we’ve talked about fall/autumn specifically!
Seasonal nostalgia could have to do with anything, all the way down to smells. The smell of the wet leaves filling the air, and the sort of cold feeling you get in your chest when you inhale. The feeling of “Ah, there’s that smell that comes around every year.” And it can be sort of comforting. Fall is often a time of new beginnings. The start of a new school year, where everything is fresh. Even though January is technically the start of a new year, September and October specifically, feels like the start of everything new. (Burnam).
Now that you might have a better understanding of this feeling, you can embrace it! Feeling nostalgic can seem sad sometimes, but it’s just a good time to reflect on memories and past events!
Works Cited
Burnam, Lizzy. “Autumn Nostalgia: Confronting the Inevitability of Change | by Lizzy Burnam | The Startup.” Medium, 25 September 2019, https://medium.com/swlh/autumn-nostalgia-confronting-the-inevitability-of-change-66c4dd8f92df. Accessed 24 September 2025.
Wier, Isaiah. “Why People Have Nostalgia For Winter and Fall.” SNO ads, 11 December 2023, https://mvcurrent.com/9979/features/why-people-have-nostalgia-for-winter-and-fall/#:~:text=Lots%20of%20people%20can%20relate,first%20start%20to%20change%20colors. Accessed 24 September 2025.