What is October Known For?

Autumn is in full swing in October. Let’s embrace the fall season! Find out why October is the name of this month, what holidays to watch for.

The Month of October
Since this was the eighth month in the early Roman calendar, the name of the month comes from the Latin octo, which means “eight.” Even though October is currently the tenth month, the term October persisted when the Romans switched to a 12-month calendar!

The lunar calendar of the early Roman era is believed to have been instituted by Romulus, the city-state’s first monarch, in 753 BC. Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October (the eighth month), November, and December were the ten months in this antiquated calendar. There were 31 days in Martius, Maius, Quintilis, and October, and 30 days in the remaining months, for a total of 304 days. During two lunar cycles, the days were not tallied during the winter.

It wasn’t until about 713 b.c. that a calendar reform, attributed to the second Roman king, Numa Pompilius, added the months Ianuarius and Februarius. Some historians think that both months were placed at the end of the year, while others believe that Ianuarius became the first month and Februarius the last. Later reforms organized the months as they are arranged today in the Gregorian calendar, whereby October became the 10th month despite its name.

October Calendar

• October 2 starts Rosh Hashanah a Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the new year.
• October 9 is Leif Eriksson Day. 
• October 11 marks the start of Yom Kippur at sundown.
• October 14 is a busy day, with three more holidays packed into it:
  • Canadian Thanksgiving. This holiday shares many similarities with its American equivalent. However, there are a 
  • Columbus Day (U.S.), a federal holiday, is observed on the second Monday in October. It was on October 12, 1492, that Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that he had reached Asia. 
• October 18 is St. Luke’s Little Summer. This is a date steeped in folklore. Traditionally, around Saint Luke’s feast day, there is a brief period of calm, dry weather
• October 24 is United Nations Day, which aims to bring awareness to the work of the United Nations worldwide.
• October 31 is Halloween (All Hallows’ Eve)!

“Just for Fun” Dates in October

Oct. 4: International Ships-in-Bottles Day
Oct. 6: National Noodle Day
Oct. 12: National Fossil Day
Oct: 24–Nov. 11: World Origami Days
Oct. 28: Frankenstein Friday