Is November Autumn Or Winter ((install)) -

To try to force November into a single category is to misunderstand its nature. November is not meant to be one thing. It is meant to be the transition.

In many northern regions, the ground freezes. The first "killing frost" turns the last of the marigolds to black lace. And, most damningly, the snow flies. Whether it’s a dusting in Chicago or a blizzard in Buffalo, snow is the psychological hard border. The moment that white stuff touches the ground, the brain switches modes. We stop thinking about raking leaves and start thinking about shoveling driveways. We stop drinking pumpkin spice lattes and switch to hot chocolate with peppermint. is november autumn or winter

Winter does not begin until the , which falls between December 20th and 23rd. Until that specific moment when the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun, we are still in autumn. Therefore, every single day of November—from the 1st to the 30th—falls firmly inside the autumn quadrant. To try to force November into a single

There is a subset of humanity—poets, farmers, slow-livers—who argue that November is the truest form of autumn. October is a liar, they say. October is a flashy show-off with its candy and costumes and electric colors. October is the prom queen of seasons. In many northern regions, the ground freezes

November is real.

Then there is the rest of us, shivering on a train platform at 4:45 PM as the sun vanishes below the horizon. By November 15th, where I live, sunset is before 5:00 PM. The "witching hour" of darkness descends before most people have finished their work emails.