What Does "Season of the Sticks" Mean? About the Vermont Season That Inspired Noah Kahan's Song

Jan. 29 2024, Published 12:07 p.m. ET

Vermont is famous for its foliage. In truth, in 2015, the state declared its colorful leaves have been the highest in the international, with over 3.5 million people estimated to discuss with the New England spot simply to peer the magical time of 12 months.

"No one does foliage better than Vermont," Gov. Peter Shumlin said in the statement at the time. "With our flaming reds, blazing oranges and glowing yellows, we have the most vibrant fall colors in the world."

But it turns out that the state's bushes are renowned for another reason — the season of the sticks. What is this? Read on to find out.

So, what is the season of the sticks?

After the global travels to Vermont to peer its shocking fall foliage, the state of course draws tourists for a wintertime sport: skiing.

Even more folks journey to the northern locale to experience its many ski accommodations to the tune of over 4 million in step with 12 months.

But in between fall and wintry weather is the so-called season of the sticks, when trees have lost their colourful leaves, however snow is but to fall.

Singer Noah Kahan popularized the term in his song aptly titled, "Stick Season."

As he informed Genius, “It was once a time period that was once used by some of the older folks in the town I grew up in to explain this in reality depressing time of yr when it’s just sort of gray and cold, and there’s no snow yet and the good looks of the foliage is done."

One of his lyrics says, "And I like Vermont, but it is the season of the sticks." The rest of the song is kind of a downer, to be honest, and tells the story of bad memories and strained relationships, resulting in feelings of isolation and despair.

Noah Kahan's "Stick Season" achieved much success.

Noah's song did very well both in the U.S. and abroad, with the album of the same name reaching the top five of Billboard's Hot 100.

He was also nominated for a Grammy in 2023, as "Stick Season" went viral in the U.K. and pulled in over 1 billion streams online.

As he told Variety in December 2023, although people are learning who he is due to "Stick Season," "Yeah, I’m appreciative for everyone discovering me now. I have been doing this for a while."

About the term we also discovered with the song, and its themes of loneliness, he said in part, "It’s been actually cool to see folks in cities or places that are some distance clear of New England resonate with those ideas."

Fans are definitely feeling it, as Noah intimated.

"That 'Stick Season' song goes THROUGH ME," one fan tweeted.

In fact, the tune has so affected fans, that even Olivia Rodrigo covered "Stick Season" — and the song went viral on social media, with fans and celebrities alike sharing their own covers.

Indeed, in addition to the "Vampire" singer, Zach Bryan also shared a canopy of "Stick Season," including some other notch in Noah's belt, and possibly making even more other people really feel less on my own — or at least focused on what stick season is like in Vermont.

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