Leaf peeping

Leaf peeping is an informal term in the United States and Canada for the activity in which people travel to view and photograph the fall foliage in areas where leaves change colors in autumn,[1] particularly in northern New England,[2][3] Appalachia, and the upper Midwest, as well as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.[4][5] An organized excursion for leaf peeping is known as a foliage tour or color tour.

Autumn in New Hampshire, United States

A similar custom in Japan is called momijigari (紅葉狩).

United States
Fall foliage peak times in the United States

The term "leaf peeper" is used both with appreciation from businesses that benefit from the millions that pour into the higher elevations of the West, upper Midwest, and northern New England in fall, and with disdain from those who have to use the roads that get over-crowded due to leaf peepers.[6] Hobbyists who get together for leaf peeping may refer to their gatherings as leaf peepshows.[7]

Peaks of the Franconia Range of the White Mountains as viewed from Loon Mountain resort after an October snowfall, looking to the north

The term "leaf peeping" has been used in numerous television shows, including "And It's Surely to Their Credit," an episode of The West Wing, and "Live Free or Die," an episode of The Sopranos.

Japan
Momiji at Ryōan-ji in Kyoto

Momijigari (紅葉狩), from the Japanese momiji (紅葉), "red leaves" or "maple tree" and kari (狩り), "hunting", is the Japanese tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves have turned red in the autumn. It is also called kōyō (紅葉).[8] Kōyō is another pronunciation of the characters for "momiji" which means "fall colors" or "leaves changing colors".[9] It is also called kanpūkai (観楓会) in Hokkaidō,[10] which means "getting together to view the leaves".[11]

Many Japanese people take part in this, with the cities of Nikkō and Kyoto being particularly famous destinations. The tradition is said to have originated in the Heian era as a cultured pursuit, and is the reason why many deciduous trees can be found in the Kyoto area.

There is also a tradition of going to see areas where grasses change colour, such as on the Oze plain.

See also

References
  1. The Foliage Network
  2. Vermont Fall Foliage Reports
  3. Visit NH: Foliage Tracker
  4. The Fall Color Blog – Fall Color Tours in Michigan
  5. Travel Wisconsin Fall Color Report
  6. Leafpeepers.com
  7. "Leaf-Peep Show". Retrieved 9 July 2012. {From Jeff Foliage}
  8. Autumn leaves (koyo) in Japan at japan-guide.com.
  9. http://jisho.org/
  10. Sapporo Year-Round: Attractions and Events in Four Seasons Archived 2012-08-20 at Archive.today at the official Sapporo Sightseeing Guide.
  11. http://jisho.org/
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