Autumn is a season where many spend time with their family, friends, and engage in comforting traditions. Hoping to soak in the dying rays of summer sunlight in the transition to winter, the general population often finds themselves outside and ready to get together and do something more than any other time of the year. But for college students, this can seem like a difficult task.
After growing up steeped in family traditions and the comforts of home, leaving for college changes everything. While spending most of the autumn season away from home, many find themselves faced with the task to create new traditions or find ways to maintain their old ones.
“It means taking what I loved from my family and getting to do that with my friends, especially those who don’t have a great family life,” said junior writing major Olivia Faulkner. “I get to be family for them, and I think that’s really cool.”
For college students, expensive traditions are not typically an option, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they cannot find their own unique ways to enjoy the harvest season. Lee students recommend the following budget friendly autumn traditions:
Visit the local apple orchard:
Apple Valley Orchard is a widely beloved option for those who want to get more deeply involved in Cleveland’s community and traditions. “You just always go to the apple orchard,” says Faulkner. “It’s something we do every year, every fall.” From two dollar tractor rides around the orchard to freshly made apple cider donuts, the orchard is the epitome of fall. The orchard hosts around 15,000 trees as well as a cider mill. Find further details at their website: Tours (applevalleyorchard.com)
Leaf hunting and hiking:
Another beloved fall tradition is leaf hunting; as the seasons change and the world becomes drenched in color, people flock to their nearby forests and parks to experience as much of the beauty as they can. Owen Bratcher, junior public administration major, describes this phenomenon.“Being outside, it really helps with seasonal depression. We’re meant to be outside.” Nature is free and benefits our mental and physical well-being, and nothing feels more like fall than being surrounded in the orange, gold, and brown of autumn leaves. Lee is very near a great many hiking trails and beautiful mountain views, providing endless opportunities to enjoy fall foliage.
Baking:
If there’s one thing that fills the home with a seasonal feel, it’s the food. From pumpkin pie to apple cider donuts, warm baked goods define the season in all of its comfort and homeliness. Baking with friends can be a cheap and productive way to spend an afternoon, filled with all the sights, smells, and tastes of autumn. One such recipe is chai tea cookies, the baking of which is a beloved tradition of pop icon Taylor Swift. Learn how to make them here: Taylor Swift's Chai Cookies Recipe | How to Make It | Taste of Home
Wardrobe switch:
As the cold breeze leaks through the windows on a chilly fall morning, the slow realization hits; it’s time to bring out the old tote from the closet that is filled with sweaters and fuzzy pajama pants. “So many of my favorite clothes, I can’t wear until it’s cold out,” Bratcher describes. “Suits, sweaters. Getting to wear those clothes again is a tradition in and of itself!” A practical home tradition that costs nothing, switching out one’s wardrobe for the fall season is an activity that can be enjoyed all autumn long.
Leaf piles:
Is there anything so quintessentially autumnal as collapsing into a crunchy pile of leaves? “If you can,” Faulkner suggests, “find someone who has some land who will let you help them rake leaves and jump in the piles in their yard. It’s a classic.” There are also piles of leaves on the edges of Lee’s sidewalks and along the streets in Cleveland’s historic district for students to kick through or sit in to enjoy the fall season.
Decorating mini pumpkins:
Mini pumpkins are significantly cheaper than full size pumpkins, and can be perfect to add seasonal decor to the home. If they lack the time to carve one, students can enjoy painting their pumpkins or simply drawing a face on in Sharpie in order to create their own unique jack-o-lantern.
DIY a Halloween costume:
Halloween costumes are fun to create but can often feel expensive or time consuming. By swinging by a local thrift store like Goodwill, Second Harvest, or Habitat for Humanity, students can discover perfect costumes for significantly less of a cost. A particularly easy way to do this is to go into a thrift store without a particular character in mind, and see what comes up. Thrift store finds can lead to unique costumes made up of pieces that can be worn throughout the year.
Halloween block party:
Another beloved Cleveland tradition is the yearly Halloween block party. Sponsored by and stationed near the Mars candy factory, the party booths are kept well stocked with chocolate for trick-or-treaters and draw many Halloween lovers downtown. For students who wish to refrain from spending money on the food trucks and booths, the party is also a wonderful opportunity to listen to live music and spot lovely costumes.
All of these traditions can allow students to engage with their community and enjoy the autumn season without breaking the bank, creating more and more ways for those in college to create their own home away from home.
This article was written by Lorelai Stephenson, part of the COMM-310 Writing for the Media class and member of Vindagua staff.
