Here's a question.

[conuly]

Why are scarecrows a symbol of fall? I thought you put them up in the spring to keep birds from eating all your seed, yeah? I can understand why they'd be useful to protect your crops until they can be harvested, but why are they solely used to mean late autumn?

Comments

[concordantnexus.livejournal.com]

(This isn't the right answer but it is a pretty, folkloric one that I'm making up)

European cultural memories of Harvest Gods that 'die' (or are sacrificed for the good of the community) in the fall?