Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Leaves In Autumn

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

LEAVES IN AUTUMN (R3x32) 3C Set Holly Boyd Célébrations

1- 8 1s lead down middle and back to face 1st corners (2s step up 3-4)
9-16 1s dance diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners, pass LSh to face 2nd corners
17-24 1s dance diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corners, finish in middle, LSh to LSh facing opposite sides
25-32 1s dance LSh round each other and out to 2nd place own side and cast to 3rd place (3s step up 27-28); All turn partner RH

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

During autumn, leaves change colour and fall from deciduous trees as part of their natural cycle.

This process is triggered by shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures, causing trees to stop producing chlorophyll, the green pigment used in photosynthesis. As the chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments become visible, creating shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown. The exact colours depend on the tree species and environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, and soil conditions.

Eventually, the leaves detach from the branches due to the formation of a separation layer at the base of the stem, allowing the tree to conserve energy and moisture for the winter months. Once on the ground, the fallen leaves decompose, returning nutrients to the soil and supporting ecosystems by providing shelter and food for various organisms.

Collection of fallen autumn leaves
Autumn Leaves, Ogata
This page uses content under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, along with original copyrighted content and excerpts from Wikipedia and other sources.
Text from this original Autumn Leaf Colour article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright 松岡明芳, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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