Tones of autumn

Temperatures may be dropping, and the days are getting shorter, but autumn in Germany is far from dreary. Trees drenched in golden leaves, lively wine and harvest festivals around the country make this a colorful time of year to be out and about. This row of orchard trees near the town of Meckenheim in North Rhine-Westphalia gives a final burst of color to ring in autumn.

Green leaves from deciduous trees start to change from September onwards before blanketing the ground in a carpet of colors. In Germany, crops cover almost 12 million hectares of land. But in autumn, the country's forests, city parks and fields explode into red and golden hues.

Red Squirrels live mainly in European deciduous forests and are regular visitors to suburban parks and gardens. As the days get colder, these little critters’ signature red coat gets thicker and darker. They feast on seeds, nuts, berries and acorns, and in the autumn months, they’re working overtime collecting food to last through winter. Sometimes they bury their goods for safekeeping.

Unpredictable cold and rainy spells are as much a part of the autumn landscape as the striking transformation of leaves. Those sunny, crisp afternoons become few and far between as the season progresses, and days get shorter and chillier. When umbrellas and coats become vital everyday accessories, it's a sure sign that autumn is in full swing.

There are hundreds of wine festivals throughout the year in Germany, but most of them take place during autumn, when grape growers begin harvesting their crops. Wine connoisseurs flock to villages along the rivers Rhine, Mosel, Elbe and Main to sample traditional food and wines from different wine-producing areas.

Federweisser is a seasonal specialty generally found in Germany’s wine-growing regions from September through October. Federweisser ("feather white" in English) is fermented, freshly pressed grape juice. It gets its name from its cloudy white color and the tiny bubbles produced by the yeast. To be called "Federweisser," the beverage must contain at least four percent alcohol.

Federweisser is commonly served with another autumn classic: Zwiebelkuchen ("onion cake"). Similar to quiche, this hearty pie is made from onions, bacon, egg, cream and dough. It's common in Germany’s wine regions and is enjoyed especially in the cooler weather.

For many families, autumn means donning a pair of boots and heading into the woods with a basket. Germany has around 5,000 mushroom species - from beige to brown to orange and bright red - so foragers should be able to tell the edible from the poisonous. Professional picking is banned, and in a recent case, a man caught with more than 40kg of illegal harvest prompted worries of a "mushroom mafia."

Harvest festivals abound in autumn, and at some events, the pumpkin is the star of the show. Some towns even have their own "Kürbisfest" ("Pumpkin festival"), where visitors can marvel at pumpkin sculptures and taste an array of pumpkin-based dishes. The town of Ludwigsburg hosts the largest festival, lugging in a half-million of the vegetables for the event.

Around October 31, it's not uncommon to see carved pumpkins and jack o' lanterns in German homes. Halloween isn't a traditional German celebration, but the occasion has become increasingly popular in recent decades thanks to Hollywood films, TV and the postwar cultural influence of the United States. Halloween-themed costume parties, rather than trick-or-treating, have especially caught on.

Colorful lanterns are part of traditional German celebrations of St. Martins Day around November 11. In most cities, children dress up in costumes, singing and taking part in lantern processions through the streets and accompanied by a man dressed as St. Martin. As legend has it, Martin gave part of his red cloak to a beggar during a snowstorm. The lights are meant to represent his goodness.