12 Quirky Autumn Traditions from Around the World

Autumn has a way of feeling universal. No matter where you are in the world, it’s the season of shorter days, harvest celebrations, and cosy gatherings. Yet the ways different cultures mark this time of year are wonderfully unique — from moonlit festivals in Asia to pumpkin parades in the US.

The best part? Many of these quirky autumn traditions can inspire our own simple rituals at home. Here are twelve to explore, with little ideas for how you can bring their spirit into your everyday autumn.

1. Apple Day – United Kingdom

Every October, villages and orchards across the UK celebrate apples with tastings, games, and community events.
Bring it home: Host your own apple-themed evening — bake apple tart, sip warm cider, or organise a family taste-test of different apple varieties.

close up of green apples on the tree — Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

2. Mid-Autumn Festival – China & East Asia

Families gather to eat mooncakes, light lanterns, and admire the full harvest moon.
Bring it home: Bake or buy a seasonal pastry, light candles or lanterns, and head outdoors to notice the September or October full moon.

3. Día de los Muertos – Mexico

This “Day of the Dead” at the end of October/early November honours loved ones with altars, marigolds, and vibrant celebrations.
Bring it home: Light a candle for someone you miss, cook one of their favourite dishes, or place a photo in a special spot.

multicolored skull decor — Photo by Chait Goli on Pexels.com

4. Oktoberfest – Germany

Though famous for beer tents, Oktoberfest began as a royal wedding celebration and is also about hearty food and community spirit.
Bring it home: Cook a German-inspired dinner (pretzels, sausages, roast veg) and invite friends over for a cosy, communal night in.

5. Samhain – Ireland & Celtic Traditions

An ancient festival marking the end of harvest and the start of the darker half of the year. Bonfires, feasts, and divination games were part of the old rituals.
Bring it home: Have your own “mini Samhain” by lighting a firepit or candles, gathering loved ones, and reflecting on what you want to leave behind this season.

bonfire photo — Photo by Jens Mahnke on Pexels.com

6. All Saints’ Day – Many European Countries

Families visit cemeteries, light candles, and decorate graves with flowers.
Bring it home: Create a small gratitude ritual — light a candle for someone who inspired you or journal about the people who shaped you.

7. Chuseok – Korea

A major harvest festival where families return home, share food, and honour ancestors.
Bring it home: Have a “gratitude meal” — cook with seasonal produce and go around the table sharing one thing each person is thankful for.

8. The Pumpkin Festival – Keene, USA

Communities come together to carve thousands of pumpkins and display them all at once.
Bring it home: Instead of carving just one pumpkin, gather friends or family and create a row of glowing pumpkins along your windowsill or doorstep.

orange pumpkins on green grass — Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

9. Guy Fawkes Night – UK

On November 5th, bonfires and fireworks mark the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot.
Bring it home: Skip the fireworks and enjoy the bonfire element. Wrap up warm, toast marshmallows, and share stories under the night sky.

10. Erntedankfest – Germany & Austria

A traditional “harvest thanksgiving” celebrated in churches and communities, with processions and plenty of food.
Bring it home: Make your own family harvest tradition — bake bread, roast vegetables, or donate food to a local charity.

11. Chestnut Festivals – Italy, France & Spain

Villages hold sagre (festivals) where roasted chestnuts, music, and dancing fill the streets.
Bring it home: Roast chestnuts at home (or buy candied ones if easier) and enjoy with a glass of wine or hot chocolate.

12. Lantern Festivals – Various (Switzerland, Austria, Portugal)

Children walk through towns with handmade lanterns, singing songs to mark the season’s darker nights.
Bring it home: Craft simple lanterns from jars and tissue paper, pop in LED candles, and take a little evening walk with them.

The beauty of autumn lies not only in its golden leaves and cosy nights but also in the many ways people across the world have chosen to mark the season. Whether it’s baking, gathering, reflecting, or lighting candles, these quirky traditions remind us that autumn is about connection — to nature, to family, to community, and to the rhythms of the year.

You don’t need a plane ticket to celebrate them. You just need a little intention, a spark of inspiration, and the willingness to let autumn’s magic weave through your own home.