Fun Fall Facts
1. Why do leaves change color?
Leaves change color when the chlorophyll disappears from the leaves due to shorter fall days. As the green fades, the small amount of yellows and oranges that were always there appear. Bright reds and purples are mostly made in the fall as the glucose trapped in the leaves turns red with the sunlight and cool nights. The brown color, as in oaks, is made from wastes left in leaves.
2. What is a “harvest moon”?
The full moon occurring nearest to the autumnal equinox. The harvest moon will be September 15, 2008. This year the equinox is September 22, or the first day of autumn, when the day and night are of equal length.
3. Why do we carve pumpkins?
Carving pumpkins was credited to immigrants that came to America during the Irish Potato Famine. Traditionally, they carved turnips, potatoes or beets and put a burning lump of coal or candle inside to represent the souls of the departed and placed them in windows to welcome the deceased. As turnips were not as readily available in America, they began using pumpkins. Today the pumpkin is a universal symbol of Halloween.
4. Bats aren’t just for Halloween
Did you know that bats are the only mammals that can fly? The wings or hands of a bat have very long finger bones covered by strong skin. Bats are warm-blooded and are covered with fur. Nearly all bats are helpful; with nearly 1000 different species bats are responsible for controlling pest insect populations, pollinating flowers, and dispersing seeds. One insect-eating bat can catch 500-1000 insects in one hour!
5. Corn and early settlers
Corn, or maize, is a domesticated plant with its origin in the Mexican western Sierra Madre. It reached southern New England approximately 1,000 years ago. Early settlers to the United States probably would have died their first winter if the Native Americans had not provided corn to cook and eat. Corn was prepared into bread, porridge, soup, fried corn cakes and pudding.