19 | September | 2025 | Plaid Line + PRIZM + Scottie News

By: Charlotte Aver

When you ask someone what their favorite season is does it feel like the answer is always fall? This is probably because fall is the most commonly liked season in America. According to a CBS News poll in which 45% said that their favorite season is fall.

Why is fall one of the most liked seasons in America? Is it the abundance of pumpkin flavored things or the spooky season and Halloween? Don’t forget about fall colors, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and Thanksgiving. Could it also be the ingrained predisposition to like fall that is brought upon as children? Maybe it’s a combination of all of these things bundled together into a nice fall themed package.

According to Katherine Lively, a sociology professor at Dartmouth University, we are predisposed to like fall as children. “As children, we come to associate fall with going back to school, new school supplies (and) seeing friends. It’s exciting, for most. We still respond to this pattern that we experienced for 18 years.”

Another reason why fall is so popular is because it can be a time to start anew as Yasmine Saad, PhD and licensed psychologist, said “Temporal landmarks divide life into distinct mental phases. They allow us to put in the past negative experiences and propel a fresh outlook.” Fall is also a time of order and structure making it a relief to people dislike the chaos of summer.

“Depending on where you live, fall usually means the end of swimsuit season. People tend to feel more comfortable about their bodies and appearance in the fall because they’re wearing more or bulkier clothing,” Dr. Levy says. That, combined with the social acceptance to indulge in Halloween candy and decadent fall foods, means “there’s less body shame and pressure to diet in order to maintain a picture-perfect, beach-ready body,” as Levy also explains. This is yet another reason why fall is so popular and a relief for plenty of people. Fall is also a time when eating goes beyond just fuel for your body, it becomes a time that families and friends come together to eat.

In addition to a childhood predisposition towards fall, there are plenty of fun activities that are purely fall related and you can’t do any other time of the year. You can go to an apple orchard and pick apples, drink apple cider, and get some nice warm cinnamon donuts. According to a poll, 51% of Americans’ favorite thing about fall is the leaves changing colors, and in New England it is incredibly popular to visit purely for fall colors. Between 3 and 4 million people go to New Hampshire alone to see fall colors.

When discussing fall you can’t forget about Halloween and spooky season. Halloween is one of the most commonly celebrated holidays in America and on Halloween night you can certainly tell by the sheer amount of decorations and trick or treaters. Leading up to Halloween there are plenty of things to do to start feeling the spooky atmosphere, you could go to a pumpkin patch and carve a pumpkin or go to a haunted house. You could also go to a coffee place, chain or local, and get one of the most popular seasonal treats, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. In some states there aren’t distinct seasons therefore, no true fall, even so PSL’s and Halloween are just as popular and celebrated.

Overall, fall is one of the most popular seasons and honestly, what’s not to like? From colorful leaves to Halloween, pumpkin spice lattes and apple cider, there is truly something for everyone. So the next time someone asks your favorite seasons I hope the answer is ‘fall’.

For more information, please visit: