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October Holidays and History

In the Northern Hemisphere, October ushers in fall like no other month. Its capital O shouts pumpkins and if the leaves haven’t turned, they soon will. Before the Julian and Gregorian calendars, October was the 8th month of the Roman calendar. Octo means eight in Latin. At the time, there were only 10 months. In 700 BC, Numa Pompilius added January and February to the calendar. This change more accurately reflected the length of a year on Earth. As a result, October became the 10th month on the calendar. While other months on the calendar have had days added and subtracted, October has always had 31 days.

Weather & Seasons

During the second month of autumn, asters bloom and so do chrysanthemums. Their colors often pair well with the pumpkins and gourds collected from gardens. And speaking of pumpkins and gourds, holidays like National Pumpkin Seed Day, National Farmer’s Day, National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, and National Pumpkin Day all offer ways to set the mood.

The Hunter’s Moon is aptly named considering many seek game in the fields and forests. Two meteor showers appear in October. They are the Draconids and the Orionids.

The month is full of sporting events, too. From the World Series to Rugby World Cup finals, sports fans fill the seats. In other activities, October brings a shift in hunting and fishing seasons. 

What’s Your Sign?

In October, Libra (scales) and Scorpio (the scorpion) represent those born in September. 

Marigolds and Cosmos both represent October babies. Marigolds bloom all summer and fall long, but in the fall is where they shine, accenting the harvest season. They symbolize positive emotion and energy. Cosmos delicate blooms represent order and harmony.

6 October Fast Facts

  1. October is the month when the five-day workweek was first sanctioned. The U.S. Naval Academy opened its doors in Annapolis, Maryland in 1845 (and Navy Day is the holiday that celebrates it!) Several U.S. presidents were born in October, too.

  2. Hugh Jackman, Luciano Pavarotti, Sigourney Weaver, Julie Andrews, and John Keats all were born in October.

  3. Six US presidents were born in October, more than any other month.

  4. John Adams

    1. Rutherford Hayes

    2. Chester Arthur

    3. Theodore Roosevelt

    4. Dwight Eisenhower

    5. Jimmy Carter

  5. Fall (including October) is a good time to be born if you want to live a long life. More centenarians are born in the fall months.

  6. The World Series of baseball begins in October.

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