10 Forgotten Autumn Pleasures to Bring Back

Autumn often stirs up a sense of nostalgia — shorter evenings, the smell of woodsmoke, the comfort of warm food. But beyond the pumpkin spice and modern “hygge,” there are simple, old-fashioned pleasures from our grandparents’ time that deserve a revival. Many of them are sustainable, budget-friendly, and deeply grounding. Here are ten forgotten autumn traditions to bring back into our homes and rhythms this year.

---

1. Pressing Autumn Leaves

Before Pinterest boards and digital scrapbooks, people pressed leaves and flowers between heavy books. It was a way of keeping the beauty of the season alive long after it had passed. Try it yourself — press leaves to use in crafts, journaling, or simply to admire when winter feels long.

---

2. Candlelit Letter Writing

Our grandparents didn’t have phones to send a quick text, but they had the art of letter writing. Imagine sitting at a quiet table on an autumn evening, candles flickering, writing a note to a friend or loved one. It’s slow, thoughtful, and a beautiful way to connect.

---

3. The Sunday Roast

For many families, the Sunday roast was sacred. A slow meal, gathered around the table, where the pace of life paused for a few hours. Bringing it back doesn’t mean complicated cooking — a simple roast chicken with seasonal veg and apple crumble afterwards will do. It’s the ritual that matters.

---

4. Keeping a Nature Table

Children once gathered leaves, feathers, pinecones, and conkers for a “nature table” at home or school. It’s a simple way to honour the season and notice its shifts. Set aside a shelf or tray in your home for seasonal finds and let it evolve each week.

---

5. Storytelling by the Fire

In days before TV, families entertained each other with stories. Autumn evenings by the fire (or even a few candles) are perfect for reviving this. Share family tales, spooky stories, or just make them up as you go. It’s free, cosy, and sparks imagination.

---

6. Stargazing Nights

With earlier sunsets, autumn was often a time for looking up at the night sky. Our grandparents knew the constellations and told stories about them. Wrap up warm, head outside with a blanket, and see what you can spot — Orion, the Pleiades, or simply the Milky Way.

---

7. Mending & Making Do

Autumn was a season of “getting ready” — patching clothes, darning socks, storing food. There’s something grounding about taking care of what we already have instead of buying more. Light a candle, put the kettle on, and mend something by hand — it’s slow, but deeply satisfying.

---

8. Singing or Playing Music Together

Before Spotify, families made their own entertainment. Singing songs, playing instruments, or listening together around the radio. Revive the spirit by making an autumn playlist and actually singing along, or dust off an instrument. It’s not about perfection — it’s about togetherness.

---

9. Preserving the Harvest

Jams, chutneys, pickles, and stored apples were staples in our grandparents’ kitchens. Even if you don’t grow your own, you can buy seasonal fruit and try making a batch of chutney or apple butter. It’s thrifty, practical, and fills your home with the most comforting autumn scents.

---

10. A Proper “Sunday Rest”

Once upon a time, Sundays were truly slow — shops closed, chores set aside, families spent time together. In today’s busy world, reclaiming a restful Sunday feels almost rebellious. Leave the to-do list, take a walk, cook something simple, read a book. Let one day a week feel different.

---

Autumn invites us to slow down — and sometimes the best way to do that is to look back. These forgotten pleasures aren’t complicated or expensive. They’re about connection, ritual, and noticing the beauty in the ordinary. Perhaps our grandparents were onto something after all.

Throughout the autumn season I will be sharing lots of autumnal inspiration over on Instagram and Pinterest if either of those platforms are your thing. If not there is lots of further autumn content here on the blog if you take a look under the “Seasonal Inspiration” category in the main menu!

Chat soon

Ciara x