Nature and local traditions during the autumn season

Autumn brings diverse changes across different contexts, from biological survival strategies to cultural memories. In the natural world, many species employ hibernation to survive freezing temperatures and food shortages. This physiological state involves drastically reducing metabolic rates and body temperatures. While animals like squirrels undergo true hibernation, others, such as bears, maintain higher body temperatures to allow for easier waking. Cold-blooded animals like reptiles and amphibians enter a state called brumation, with some frog species even utilizing internal anti-freeze agents to survive frozen conditions.

In Hakkari, autumn is associated with nostalgic cultural traditions from the 1980s and 1990s. During this period, the season was marked by the preparation of winter food supplies, such as roasting meat to store in tins, and the traditional baking of bread in stone ovens. Local culinary customs included eating fresh bread with herb cheese made from endemic mountain plants.