Embracing Autumn in Germany: Traditions to Help Expats Feel at Home

Introduction

Autumn in Germany can be a shock for newcomers. The days shorten quickly, temperatures drop, and the skies turn a reliable grey. If you have just arrived, or if you are heading into your first or second German autumn, it is easy to feel cut off — from the warmth, from your routine, and sometimes from the country itself. But experienced expats often say the same thing: the secret is not to wait for spring, but to lean into the season. One editor at The Local, Paul Krantz, has done exactly that, sharing four personal traditions that keep him genuinely excited for Germany's cold-weather months. His advice is simple — get outside and embrace what autumn here actually offers.

Why Seasonal Traditions Matter for Expats

For people who move to a new country, finding a rhythm with the local seasons is part of putting down roots. Germany has a rich calendar of autumn activities — markets, forest walks, regional food and community events — that most locals take for granted but that can feel unfamiliar and even uninviting to someone who grew up elsewhere.

Building your own small traditions around these seasonal touchstones does something practical: it gives you familiar anchors in an unfamiliar place. Psychologically, having things to look forward to in October or November — your own version of a Sunday Herbst walk, a favourite market, a seasonal recipe — can make a real difference to how settled and at home you feel.

This is not just feel-good advice. Integration researchers consistently note that cultural participation — including engaging with local seasonal life — helps newcomers build social connections and a sense of belonging. You do not need to become German overnight, but finding a few autumn rituals that work for you is a low-cost, high-reward step.

Getting Outside: The Core of German Autumn Culture

The piece by Paul Krantz centres on one theme that runs through German autumn culture: going outside, regardless of the weather. Germans have a saying — es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung (there is no bad weather, only bad clothing) — and they largely live by it.

German forests in autumn are genuinely spectacular. Beech and oak trees turn amber and copper, and the country's network of marked hiking trails means that almost everywhere in Germany, a proper forest walk is within reach by public transport or a short drive. Many expats discover this slowly and wish they had started earlier.

Farmer's markets and weekly markets (Wochenmärkte) shift their produce in autumn to squash, root vegetables, apples, and mushrooms. Browsing a local market on a Saturday morning is one of the simplest ways to feel connected to the place you live — and to pick up ingredients you might never have cooked with before.

Building Your Own Traditions

What Krantz's piece highlights is that personal traditions do not need to be elaborate. They just need to be yours. A few ideas that translate well across Germany:

• A regular walking route: choose a park, forest or riverside path near your home and walk it every weekend through October and November. Watching the same place change week by week is quietly anchoring.
• Seasonal cooking: learn one or two German autumn recipes — a pumpkin soup, a Pflaumenkuchen (plum cake), a pot of Linsensuppe (lentil soup). Cooking with what is locally in season is one of the fastest ways to feel at home in a kitchen abroad.
• Local events: many German towns hold autumn markets, harvest festivals and cultural events that are free or very low cost. Check your local Stadtverwaltung or community board for listings.
• Reducing screen time at weekends: easier said than done, but the expats who tend to enjoy German autumn most are the ones who replace the habit of scrolling with the habit of going out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there anything specifically German about autumn that I should know about as a newcomer?

Autumn in Germany brings a few cultural touchstones worth knowing. Late October sees the tail end of pumpkin season and some regional harvest festivals. November includes Sankt Martinstag on 11 November — a tradition where children walk with lanterns in the evening, celebrated in many neighbourhoods with small processions. Advent preparations also begin in late November, with Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) opening toward the end of the month. None of these require participation, but knowing they exist helps you understand what you are seeing around you.

How do I find outdoor activities and events near me in autumn?

Your local municipality's website (Gemeinde or Stadtverwaltung) usually lists community events. Apps and websites covering German hiking trails — search for regional trail networks in your area — are widely available. Local Facebook groups for expats in your city are often a good informal source of recommendations from people who have already found the good spots.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Autumn in Germany does not have to be something you endure. With a few deliberate habits — a regular walk, a market visit, a seasonal recipe — it can become one of the better parts of living here. Start small: pick one thing from this list and commit to it for a month. The expats who thrive in Germany tend to be the ones who stop comparing the season to somewhere else and start finding out what this one has to offer.

Source: thelocal