One of my favorite questions recently was asking why fall is also called autumn when the other seasons only have one name. I received a response from one viewer after I asked the question on TV and he said it was called fall because fall begins with the autumnal equinox and autumn is short for autumnal. I like the reasoning, but spring begins with the vernal equinox, so spring could also be called vernal. One writer states that fall is named for the leaves and the temperatures that fall after a warm summer. It sounds nice, but there has to be more...I hope. I did a little research and the only answer I can find is that we have acquired the word autumn from the British. Fall has been used since the 17th century when English immigrants crossed the Atlantic and the use of fall and autumn were common, but Americans over the years adopted the term fall. I wish the answer was more exciting, but using the word autumn represents our long history with the British when they first settled here. Another writer compared the use of autumn and fall to the endless debate over the spelling of potatoe…or potato, or spelling color as colour. Autumn just sounds more elegant. Either way, the chilly fall weather we had last week will warm into a mild autumn week this week.