How to Celebrate St. Luke’s Little Summer: An October Tradition
Oh, October! Is there anything quite like it?
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The trees are turning every shade of gold, red, and russet. The air smells like fallen leaves, the windows are begging to be opened on a sunny afternoon, and suddenly I want to bake something with apples, pull every cozy blanket out of the cupboard, and read Anne of Green Gables all over again.
October has always felt a little magical to me. Perhaps it’s the way the world seems to put on one last spectacular show before winter arrives. Perhaps it’s the excuse to drink something warm while watching the leaves fall. Or perhaps it’s simply that I am a kindred spirit of Anne Shirley, who could find a little romance in just about anything, especially a particularly fine autumn day!
And did you know there is an old tradition with a name that sounds as charming as the season itself?
It’s called St. Luke’s Little Summer, and it is the perfect excuse to squeeze a little more sunshine out of October.
If you’re a Catholic homeschool mom who loves seasonal traditions, nature walks, good books, and finding little ways to celebrate the liturgical year, come along. We’re going to explore this bit of autumn folklore, gather some ideas for enjoying the season with our children, and make a list of fall books worthy of a cozy afternoon.
What Is St. Luke’s Little Summer?
St. Luke’s Little Summer is an old weather tradition associated with the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist on October 18.
The expression describes a short spell of mild, settled, or sunny weather around the middle of October. After the first chilly days of autumn, the weather might suddenly soften. The sun comes out, the wind settles, and we get a little taste of summer just when we thought those days were behind us.
According to old English weather folklore, a period of fine, dry weather was often expected around St. Luke’s feast day. Historical collections of weather lore record the expression, and the tradition has been remembered in writing for centuries. It is a lovely example of the way people once observed the natural world and connected the changing seasons with the Church calendar. (Historical weather folklore from NOAA’s library)
Of course, there is no guarantee that St. Luke’s Little Summer will arrive on October 18. Here in Canada, October can bring golden sunshine, frosty mornings, chilly rain, and occasionally an early snowfall. The weather doesn’t always cooperate with our romantic notions of autumn!
But I rather like the idea of having a name for those unexpected warm days. Instead of simply calling it a nice afternoon, we can call it St. Luke’s Little Summer and make a little occasion of it.
And if the weather is miserable? Well, there’s always a warm blanket and a good book.
Who Was St. Luke?
St. Luke was an early Christian, a companion of St. Paul, and the traditional author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. St. Paul refers to him as “the beloved physician” in Colossians 4:14.
His feast day is celebrated on October 18, the date associated with St. Luke’s Little Summer.
St. Luke’s Gospel is full of beautiful stories that many of us know and love. He tells us about the Annunciation, the Visitation, the shepherds at Bethlehem, the Good Samaritan, and the Prodigal Son. His writings draw our attention to God’s mercy, the importance of prayer, and Christ’s care for the poor and those in need.
St. Luke is traditionally regarded as the patron saint of physicians and surgeons, among others.
While St. Luke’s Little Summer is a weather tradition rather than an official Catholic observance, it gives us a delightful opportunity to celebrate his feast day and pay a little extra attention to the world God has made.
If you’d like to introduce your children to this wonderful saint, I’ve also put together a St. Luke the Evangelist coloring page with quick facts for kids. It’s a simple activity to add to your October homeschool plans.
How to Celebrate St. Luke’s Little Summer
I think one of the loveliest things about seasonal traditions is that they don’t need to be complicated. We don’t need a special party, a dozen supplies, or an elaborate lesson plan.
Sometimes we just need a reason to put our work aside for a little while, gather the children, and enjoy the day.
Here are a few ways to celebrate St. Luke’s Little Summer with your family.
1. Go for a Golden October Walk
If October 18 happens to bring one of those beautiful, mild afternoons, take advantage of it!
Bundle up if necessary, lace up your walking shoes, and head outside. You might visit a favourite trail, wander around the neighbourhood, or simply explore your own backyard.
Look for the leaves that have turned brilliant red and gold. Listen for birds. Notice the way the afternoon sunlight falls through the trees. See if you can find acorns, interesting seedpods, or the last stubborn flowers still blooming.
You could even make a little game of finding the most beautiful leaf, the tiniest natural treasure, or the best place to stand and admire the view.
There’s something lovely about giving children time to notice the world without hurrying them along to the next thing. If you have unlimited patience. But if you don’t, you can bring their bikes and walk at a pleasant normal human speed WITH CONVERSATION while they bike ahead!
This is also a great time of year to:
- pick cranberries
- go fall camping
- make apple cider
- do fall yard clean-up
- take down your trampoline
- do seasonal clothing changeover
- buy mittens
- clean/change your furnace filter
- chop firewood
- harvest the last herbs from your garden
Boy I am really full of fun today.
I have lots more Fall Nature Walk ideas and a free printable Fall Scavenger Hunt!
2. Have a Little Autumn Nature Study (free printable!)
A sunny October afternoon is a wonderful opportunity for a Charlotte Mason-inspired nature study.
Take a notebook and a few pencils outside and invite each child to choose something to observe. It could be a leaf, a pinecone, a tree, a bird, or even a particularly interesting patch of moss.
Encourage them to look closely before they begin drawing. What colours can they see? Are the edges smooth or jagged? Are there tiny details they might have missed at first glance? Do they have any leaf fungus already growing?
Younger children can draw a picture and tell you what they noticed. Older children might label their sketches, identify the tree species, or write a short description of the weather.
Here are a few prompts to get you started:
- What signs of autumn can you find?
- Which trees still have their leaves?
- What colours do you see most often?
- Can you hear any birds?
- What has changed since your last nature walk?
- What is one small thing you might have overlooked if you were in a hurry?
You don’t need to turn the outing into a formal lesson. Let curiosity lead the way.
And if you want to make it extra special, print the page St. Luke’s Little Summer Nature Study and tuck it into your child’s nature journal.
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3. Read a Little Autumn Poetry
October seems made for poetry, doesn’t it?
There is something about the changing leaves, the misty mornings, and the shortening days that makes me want to pull out the poetry books and read aloud.
Choose a few poems about autumn, trees, birds, or the changing seasons. Read them on the couch with a blanket, or take a book outside to the warmth we have been talking all about and find a quiet place to sit.
You could invite your children to choose a favourite line and illustrate it in their notebooks. Older children might enjoy memorizing a short poem, while younger ones can listen for beautiful words and images.
This is one of those lovely homeschool activities that can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Remember… Five Minutes Matters!
4. Collect Leaves for a Simple Autumn Craft
If your children love bringing home treasures from nature walks, this is their moment.
Gather a few fallen leaves in different shapes and colours. At home, you can press them between sheets of paper, make leaf rubbings with crayons, or arrange them into a simple collage. If you have a little more time, iron and dip in hot wax to make a leaf banner that will last.
You could also place a few leaves, acorns, and pinecones in a basket to make a little autumn nature display.
For a more artistic activity, ask each child to choose one leaf and draw it as carefully as possible. Compare the shapes and colours. Notice how no two leaves are exactly alike.
5. Read the Gospel of Luke Together
Since St. Luke’s Little Summer is associated with the feast of St. Luke, it is a lovely opportunity to open his Gospel together.
You could read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37, the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11–32, or the account of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:8–20.
Ask your children what they noticed about the story and what it teaches us about God or our neighbour.
For a nature-themed connection, read Luke 12:27, where Jesus invites His listeners to consider the lilies and how they grow. Talk about how creation can remind us to trust in God’s providence.
You could finish with a short prayer thanking God for the beauty of autumn and asking St. Luke to pray for your family.
For more on St Luke, check out my post with a colouring page.
6. Have a Cozy Autumn Reading Afternoon
Now we’re getting to one of my favourite ideas!
If the weather is lovely, take your books outside and read in the sunshine. If it is cold and rainy, pile up the blankets, make something warm to drink, and settle in indoors.
Let everyone choose a book. Read aloud together, let older children disappear into their own stories, or spend the afternoon listening to an audiobook while working on a quiet project.
You could even declare it an official St. Luke’s Little Summer Reading Afternoon. I don’t believe the tradition says anything about reading, but I think St. Luke would forgive us for adding a few books to the celebration!
And speaking of books…
A Cozy Fall Book List for Families
One of my favourite things about October is the excuse to revisit old favourites and discover stories that feel as though they belong beside a crackling fire.
If you’re building a seasonal book basket for your homeschool, here are some lovely options. I’ve included a mix of classics for older children and autumn picture books for younger readers.
A seasonal book basket doesn’t have to be expensive. Sometimes the books we already own feel brand new when we bring them out at just the right time of year.
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Sweet Home Alaska by Jennifer Bove
- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
- Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
- Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
A Simple St. Luke’s Little Summer Day
If you’d like to make a little occasion of October 18, here’s an easy plan you can adapt to your family.
Morning
- Read a short passage from the Gospel of Luke.
- Learn one or two facts about St. Luke.
- Choose a poem about autumn to read together.
Afternoon
- Take a nature walk if the weather permits.
- Sketch a leaf or another natural object.
- Collect a few fallen leaves for an autumn craft.
Evening
- Read an autumn picture book or continue your family read-aloud.
- Share one thing everyone noticed or enjoyed that day.
- Say a prayer of thanksgiving for the gifts of creation.
And if your day doesn’t go according to plan? No worries. Read a book at bedtime, say a little prayer, have dessert… Liturgical living doesn’t need to be another thing on the to-do.
What If St. Luke’s Little Summer Doesn’t Arrive?
Here in Canada, I think we need to be realistic about October weather!
Sometimes we get a gorgeous stretch of sunshine. Other times, we are pulling out winter coats and wondering whether the leaves will finish falling before the snow arrives.
St. Luke’s Little Summer is a weather tradition, not a promise. Historical weather folklore describes the mild spell, but it cannot tell us what the weather will be like in any particular place or year.
So don’t feel you need to celebrate outdoors on October 18 itself. If the weather is miserable, save the nature walk for another afternoon. You can still read about St. Luke, enjoy a fall book, or sketch something from your window. And there is plenty to love about a rainy October afternoon, too.
So whether you spend October 18 walking beneath golden trees, reading Anne of Green Gables with a blanket over your knees, or simply watching the leaves fall while your children play, I hope you find a little moment of beauty in the day.
And if you happen to get a spell of warm, sunny weather, do enjoy it. Take the long way home. Read one more chapter outside. Let the children play a little longer. Summer may be gone, but October has a little magic of its own.
Looking for more ways to celebrate St. Luke’s feast day? Visit our St. Luke the Evangelist post!
Let’s See You Live It!
I would love to see how your family does this. It is so inspiring to others, too. Send me an email or tag me on social media @kindlingwild and I’ll be sure to share!
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Check out some of my recent posts:
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