Autumn in Mongolia

Autumn in Mongolia

Changing Seasons

Canadians are very used to constant change. We are one of the few places in the world that have such dramatic changes to our seasons! We can go from 30+ degree weather one day to snow falling the next! Our seasons are one of the iconic defining traits of Canada. We’re lucky to have so many traditions and festivals tied to our seasons. Similarly, Mongolia also shares this uniqueness. Today we’re going to dive into some things that define Canada and Mongolia’s autumn season. I think you’ll be surprised with some similarities!

Autumn in Canada

If you’re a Canadian reading this, you know what autumn in Canada is all about! The start of school, apple picking, the stunning colour of the leaves, pumpkin patches, and so much more! Let’s spend a bit of time going over some of the more famous things:

The Leaves

Do we even need to talk about these? It’s one of the first things most people will think about and look forward to! Our trees give us quite a show once the temperature dips! The golden hues of orange and yellow mix so well with the fiery reds. People travel from all over just to witness the views year after year!

Apple Picking

September and October are the best times to get those apples! It’s our high time to sample all things flavored apple! Whether you go to a nearby orchard to get the apples, or spend your time baking those timeless treats, it’s a great time to indulge! The apple orchards become a great tourist activity to do!

Festivals!

Autumn in Canada is the perfect time to enjoy some Autumn festivals! Canada is a vast country, and each region celebrates so many things at this time of year. A few iconic ones of note are: The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, The Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, the Prince Edward County Pumpkinfest, and the Prince Edward International Shellfish Festival! These are just a few things Canadians look forward to in the fall. There’s so much reason to get out and about to these events!

Autumn in Mongolia

Autumn in Mongolia is interesting because it bears some similarities to Autumn in Canada, but also has quite a few unique differences. Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, shares the title of being one of the coldest capitals on Earth with Ottawa. With cold weather, Mongolians and Canadians just know! Autumn begins early, starting in the beginning of September and running through October. In Mongolia, the temperature drops rapidly, and it is not uncommon to see snowfall during this period. Let’s look at some of the unique features of a Mongolian Autumn:

Harvesting

There is a famous saying in Mongolia, “Autumn arrives the day after Naadam.” If you read our other blog post, you’ll know Naadam takes place on July 11-13! It seems incredible that, at the beginning of July, people are already thinking about Autumn! But this is a fact of life in Mongolia. Shortly after the Naadam festival, the harvesting of hay begins so that herders have enough food for their livestock in the winter.

Kitchen Preparations!

In Canada, it is very common to have that family member who is big into baking all things apples. It is also very common to have a family member who uses the Autumn time to make preserves. In Mongolia, there is a similar practice for dairy products. They prepare various dairy products such as solid cream (also known as aaruul), as well as eezgii, a dried curd that is a beloved staple during the winter months and a common sight during Lunar New Year. 

Spa Season

One thing that is not as common in Canada is the idea of a “spa season.” In Mongolia, these are quite common and a very popular destination for people during Autumn. They believe that the warm waters of a spa will help boost the immune system during the cold winter months and keep a person healthy. The well-known spas in Mongolia, including Orgil, Janchivlan, Shargaljuut are busy during this time.

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