October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and

Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It was introduced in October 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian calendar. The principal change was to space leap years dif ...

s and the sixth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus , October retained its name (from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

and

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

''ôctō'' meaning "eight") after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans. In

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...

, one of three Mundus patet would take place on October 5,

Meditrinalia The Meditrinalia was a festival in the traditional Roman religion, celebrated on October 11 in honor of the new vintage, which was offered as libations to the gods for the first time each year. Though now obscure, the festival may have been so call ...

October 11,

Augustalia The Augustalia, also known as the ''Ludi Augustales'' ("Augustan Games"), was a festival celebrated October 12 in honor of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It was established in conjunction with an altar to Fortuna Redux to mark the return of A ...

on October 12,

October Horse In ancient Roman religion, the October Horse (Latin ''Equus October'') was an animal sacrifice to Mars carried out on October 15, coinciding with the end of the agricultural and military campaigning season. The rite took place during one of thre ...

on October 15, and

Armilustrium In ancient Roman religion, the Armilustrium was a festival in honor of Mars, the god of war, celebrated on October 19.H.H. Scullard, ''Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic'' (Cornell University Press, 1981), p. 195. On this day the weapo ...

on October 19. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar. Among the

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons were a Cultural identity, cultural group who inhabited England in the Early Middle Ages. They traced their origins to settlers who came to Britain from mainland Europe in the 5th century. However, the ethnogenesis of the Anglo- ...

s, it was known as

Winterfylleth Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ) was the Anglo-Saxon or Old English name for the month of October. It marked and celebrated the beginning of winter. The name of the month was recorded by Bede thus: See also * Anglo-Saxon * Germanic calendar * ...

(Ƿinterfylleþ), because at this full moon, winter was supposed to begin. October is commonly associated with the season of

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a ...

in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, and

autumn Autumn, also known as fall in American English and Canadian English, is one of the four temperate seasons on Earth. Outside the tropics, autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, in September ( Northern Hemisphere) or March ( Sou ...

in parts of the

Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...

, where it is the seasonal equivalent to

April April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. It is the first of four months to have a length of 30 days, and the second of five months to have a length of less than 31 days. April is commonly associated with ...

in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

October symbols

October's

birthstone A birthstone is a gemstone A gemstone (also called a fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semiprecious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rock ...

s are the

tourmaline Tourmaline ( ) is a crystalline silicate mineral group in which boron is compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is a gemstone and can be found in a wide variety of colors. The ...

and

opal Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. Due to its amorphous property, it is classified as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline forms ...

. *Its birth flower is the

calendula ''Calendula'' () is a genus of about 15–20 species''Calendula''.
Flora of China.

. *The

zodiac The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the Sun path, apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. ...

signs for this month are

Libra Libra generally refers to: * Libra (constellation), a constellation * Libra (astrology), an astrological sign based on the star constellation Libra may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Libra'' (novel), a 1988 novel by Don DeLillo Musi ...

(until October 22) and Scorpio (from October 23 onwards).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030. *The French word octobre is shortened to 8bre.

October observances

''This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.'' Beata Vergine Maria, Madonna del Rosario

Non-Gregorian observances: dates

(All Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.) *

List of observances set by the Bahá'í calendar A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby union ...

List of observances set by the Chinese calendar The traditional Chinese holidays are an essential part of harvests or prayer offerings. The most important Chinese holiday is the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), which is also celebrated in overseas ethnic Chinese communities (for example in ...

List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar All observances begin at sunset the day prior to the Gregorian date listed unless otherwise noted, and end on nightfall of the date in question, which is defined as the appearance of three stars in the sky. On leap years (which occur every 2– ...

List of observances set by the Islamic calendar All Islamic observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted. Holidays for 1441 (2019-2020) {, class="wikitable" !width=20%, Date on Islamic Calendar !width=20%, Gre ...

List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendar Dates in this table are determined by when the March Equinox falls. It will fall on March 20 from 2018-2023. {, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" ! Holiday date !!Holiday name !! Description !!March equinox on March 19 !!March Eq ...

Month-long observances

Black History Month Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada, and more recently ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

*In

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

tradition, October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. *

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM), also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awaren ...

* Health Literacy Month * International Walk to School Month * Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month *

Rett Syndrome Rett syndrome (RTT) is a genetic disorder that typically becomes apparent after 6–18 months of age and almost exclusively in females. Symptoms include impairments in language and coordination, and repetitive movements. Those affected often h ...

Awareness Month * World Blindness Awareness Month * World Menopause Month * Vegetarian Awareness Month

United States

The last two to three weeks in October (and, occasionally, the first week of November) are normally the only time of the year during which all of the "Big Four" major professional sports leagues in the U.S. and Canada schedule games; the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

begins its preseason and about two weeks later starts the regular season, the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

is about one month into its regular season, the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

is about halfway through its regular season, and

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

is in its postseason with the

League Championship Series The League Championship Series (LCS) is the semifinal round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969. In 1981, and since 1995, the two annual series have matched up the winners of the Division Series, and ...

and

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...

. Prior to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

in 2020, which necessitated changes to the sporting calendar and led to the four leagues' schedules coinciding earlier and more frequently than normal, there were 19 occasions in which all four leagues played games on the same day (an occurrence popularly termed a sports equinox), with the most recent of these taking place on October 27, 2019. Additionally, the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

is typically nearing the end of its regular season during this period, while

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

is beginning the

MLS Cup Playoffs The MLS Cup Playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of Major League Soccer. The final match of the tournament is the MLS Cup, the league's championship game. Under the current format adopted for the 2019 season, 14 teams qualif ...

. *American Archives Month *National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month * National Arts & Humanities Month *National Bullying Prevention Month * National Cyber Security Awareness Month * National Domestic Violence Awareness Month *

Filipino American History Month Filipino American History Month (FAHM) is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. In 1991, Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) board of trustees proposed the first annual Filipino American History Month to ...

* Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month *

Polish American Heritage Month Polish American Heritage Month is an annual event celebrated in October by Polish American communities. It was first celebrated in 1981 after organization by Michael Blichasz, President of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia. Origin ...

National Work and Family Month The National Work and Family Month is the month of October in the United States. This designation was first made by a resolution of the U.S. Senate in 2003 and has been reaffirmed by both houses of the United States Congress. In 2010, President ...

= United States, Health-related

= * American Pharmacist Month *Celebrating All of October Dwarfism/Little People/Short Stature/Skeletal Dysplasia Awareness *Dwarfism/Little People Awareness Month *Eczema Awareness Month * National

Dental Hygiene Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out ...

Month * National Healthy Lung Month * National

Infertility Infertility is the inability of a person, animal or plant to reproduce by natural means. It is usually not the natural state of a healthy adult, except notably among certain eusocial species (mostly haplodiploid insects). It is the normal state ...

Awareness Month * Liver Awareness Month * National

Lupus Erythematosus Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blo ...

Awareness Month * National

Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is one of the allied health professions. It is provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through physical examination, diagnosis, management, prognosis, patient ...

Month * National

Spina Bifida Spina bifida (Latin for 'split spine'; SB) is a birth defect in which there is incomplete closing of the spine and the membranes around the spinal cord during early development in pregnancy. There are three main types: spina bifida occulta, me ...

Awareness Month *

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden unexplained death of a child of less than one year of age. Diagnosis requires that the death remain unexplained even after a thorough autopsy and detailed death scene investigation. SIDS usuall ...

Awareness Month (United States)

= United States, Culinary

= * National Pizza Month * National

Popcorn Popcorn (also called popped corn, popcorns or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated; the same names also refer to the foodstuff produced by the expansion. A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the se ...

Poppin’ Month * National Pork Month * National Seafood Month

Movable observances, 2022 dates

Oktoberfest celebrations The Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Germany during late September and early October. It is attended by six million people each year and has inspired numerous similar events using the name ''Oktoberfest'' in Germany ...

(varies globally based on area) *

Astronomy Day Astronomy Day is an annual event in the United States and later in other countries, intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. History This event was start ...

: October 1 * World Cerebral Palsy Day: October 6 *

World College Radio Day College Radio Day, is an event conceived by Rob Quicke, General Manager of WPSC at William Paterson University. The company was founded in December 2010. The first event was held on October 11, 2011 with subsequent CRD events happening in the first ...

: October 7 *

Earth Science Week Earth Sciences Week is a yearly event run by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) to promote understanding of Earth science and stewardship of the planet. It is typically held in the second full week of October. {{Cite web, url=http://www.ear ...

: October 9–15 *See also

Movable Western Christian observances {{Use mdy dates, date=July 2017 This is a list of movable observances within Western Christianity. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor gen ...

*See also

Movable Eastern Christian observances This is a chronological list of moveable Eastern Christian observances. Most of these are calculated by the date of Pascha. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply eithe ...

October 2

Excessivism Excessivism is an art movement. In 2015 American artist and curator Kaloust Guedel introduced it to the world with an exhibition titled ''Excessivist Initiative''. The review of the exhibition written by art critic and curator Shana Nys Dambrot ...

(

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

)

First Sunday: October 2

Daylight saving time Daylight saving time (DST), also referred to as daylight savings time or simply daylight time (United States, Canada, and Australia), and summer time (United Kingdom, European Union, and others), is the practice of advancing clocks (typicall ...

begins (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

) *

Father's Day Father's Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the United ...

(

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

) *

Grandparents Day Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It occurs on various days of the year, either as one holiday or someti ...

(

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

) *

Teachers' Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is the primary reason why countries ce ...

(

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

)

First Full Week: October 2–8

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly hot air balloon festival that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during early October. The Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event occurring in the first full week of October, and has ov ...

(

) *

Mental Illness Awareness Week Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) was established in the U.S. in 1990 recognition of efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to educate and increase awareness about mental illness. It takes place every year during the first ful ...

(

)

First Monday: October 3

Child Health Day Child Health Day () is a United States Federal Observance Day observed on the first Monday in October. History According to 36 U.S.C. § 105, on Child Health Day the president invites "all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare t ...

(

) *

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

(

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

) *

Labour Day Labour Day ('' Labor Day'' in the United States) is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for ...

(

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

) *

Peat Cutting Monday Peat Cutting Monday or Peat Cutting Day is a public holiday in the Falkland Islands that is celebrated on the first Monday in October every year. Traditionally, Peat Cutting Day was the time of year when Falkland Islanders went out to cut cubes o ...

(

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...

) *

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...

(

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindian ...

) * World Architecture Day *

World Habitat Day World Habitat Day is marked on the first Monday of October each year, and is recognized by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The day is also intended to remind the wor ...

First Tuesday: October 4

National Night Out National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the United States, held the first Tuesday of August (Texas celebrates on the first Tuesday in October). History The event has been held annually since 1984, and is sponsored by th ...

(

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

)

First Wednesday: October 5

(

)

First Thursday: October 6

National Poetry Day National Poetry Day is a British campaign to promote poetry, including public performances. National Poetry Day was founded in 1994 by William Sieghart. It takes place annually in the UK on the first Thursday in October. Since its inception, it ha ...

(UK, Ireland)

First Friday: October 7

(

) *

Lee National Denim Day Lee National Denim Day is a fundraiser created by Lee Jeans to support the women's cancer programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Every year, people are asked to donate the money they would spend on a pair of jeans to support breast ca ...

(

) *

World Smile Day Harvey Ross Ball (July 10, 1921 – April 12, 2001) was an American commercial artist. He is recognized as the designer of a popular smiley graphic picture, which became an enduring and notable international icon. He never applied for a tradem ...

Second Saturday: October 8

* International Migratory Bird Day (

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

, and the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

) *

Home Movie Day Home Movie Day (established 2002) is an annual event that celebrates amateur films and filmmaking. It is a worldwide event, held at local venues all over the world and organized locally by volunteers. Home Movie Day events provide the opportunity f ...

(

International observance Lists of holidays by various categorizations. Religious holidays Abrahamic holidays (Middle Eastern) Jewish holidays *Chag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened bread, Unleavened Bread – 7 days of consumption of matzo with wine and avoidance ...

) * National Tree Planting Day (

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

)

Second Sunday: October 9

National Grandparents Day Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It occurs on various days of the year, either as one holiday or someti ...

(

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

)

Week of October 9: October 9–15

Fire Prevention Week National Fire Prevention Week is observed in the United States and Canada, during the week (from Sunday to Saturday) in which October 9 falls. In the United States, the first Presidential proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by Pre ...

(

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

) ** Fire Service Recognition Day (

), last day of Fire Prevention Week: October 10

Week of October 10: October 9–15

Fiji Week Fiji Week is a week of festivities culminating in Fiji Day on 10 October (the anniversary of Fiji's independence from British colonial rule in 1970) annually. A different theme is chosen every year, but common elements include religious ceremonie ...

(

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

)

Second Monday: October 10

Columbus Day Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. ...

(

) **

Indigenous Peoples' Day Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It is celebrated across the United States on the second Monday in October, and is an ...

(Parts of the United States) **

Native American Day Native American Day is a holiday observed in several states in celebration of Native American culture. In California and Nevada, the holiday is designated on the fourth Friday of September, whereas in South Dakota and Wisconsin, it falls on the ...

(

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state in the West North Central states, North Central region of the United States. It is also part of the Great Plains. South Dakota is named after the Lakota people, Lakota and Dakota peo ...

) *

Fraternal Day Fraternal Day is a legal holiday in the state of Alabama in the United States. It is celebrated annually on the second Monday in October on the same day as Columbus Day and American Indian Heritage Day. Fraternal Day was originally celebrated in ...

(

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

) *

Health and Sports Day , formerly , is a public holiday in Japan held annually on the second Monday in October. It commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, and exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle. History and current practice T ...

(

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

) *

Mother's Day Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the ...

(

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

) * Norfolk Island Agricultural Show Day (

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

) *

Thanksgiving (Canada) Thanksgiving (french: Action de grâce) or Thanksgiving Day (french: Jour de l'Action de grâce), is an annual Canadian holiday and harvest festival, held on the second Monday in October, which celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the ...

* National Day (

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

)

Second Tuesday: October 11

* Ada Lovelace Day

Second Wednesday: October 12

* Policy Statement of Belgian Parliament (

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

)

Wednesday of second full week in October: October 12

National Fossil Day National Fossil Day was established in the United States by the National Park Service during 2010 as a celebration and partnership to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils. The first annual National Fossil Day was hosted on Octo ...

(

)

Second Thursday: October 13

World Sight Day World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event meant to draw attention on blindness and vision impairment. It was originally initiated by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2 ...

Second Friday: October 14

Arbor Day Arbor Day (or Arbour in some countries) is a secular day of observance in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. Today, many countries observe such a holiday. Though usually observed in the spring, the date varies, dependi ...

(

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

) * World Egg Day

Third Saturday: October 15

* Sweetest Day (

)

Third Sunday: October 16

Teacher's Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is the primary reason why countries ce ...

(

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

) *

(

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

)

Third Monday: October 17

Heroes' Day Heroes' Day or National Heroes' Day may refer to a number of commemorations of national heroes in different countries and territories. It is often held on the birthday of a national hero or heroine, or the anniversary of their great deeds that m ...

(

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

) *

(

) *

Nanomonestotse Nanomonestotse is an autumn celebration of peace, observed within some Native American families. The word "nanomónestôtse" (pronounced NAH-noh-MAH-nay-STOHT-say) means "peace" in the Cheyenne language. History and traditions Nanomonestotse ...

( Native American communities) *

Boss's Day Boss's Day (also written Bosses Day or Boss' Day) is generally observed on or around October 16th in the United States. It has been pitched as a day for employees to thank their bosses for being kind and fair throughout the year, but some have op ...

(United States, Canada, Lithuania and Romania)

Third Thursday: October 20

* International Credit Union Day

Fourth Saturday: October 22

(

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

) *

Make a Difference Day ''USA Weekend'' was an American weekend newspaper magazine owned by the Gannett Company. Structured as a sister publication to Gannett's flagship newspaper ''USA Today'' and distributed in the Sunday editions of participating local newspapers, ...

(

)

Week of Fourth Wednesday: October 23–29

* Children's Week (

)

Fourth Monday: October 24

(

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

)

Fourth Wednesday: October 26

(

)

Last Friday: October 28

* National Bandanna Day (

) * Nevada Day (

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...

) (though the state was actually admitted on October 31, 1864) *

(

) (If the last Friday is on October 31, this holiday is moved to November 7)

Last Sunday: October 30

European Summer Time Summer time in Europe is the variation of standard clock time that is applied in most European countries (apart from Iceland, Belarus, Turkey and Russia) in the period between spring and autumn, during which clocks are advanced by one hour from th ...

ends *

(

) *

Székely Autonomy Day The Székely Autonomy Day ( hu, Székely Autonómia Napja; ro, Ziua Autonomiei Ținutului Secuiesc) is a day celebrated by the Székely ( Hungarian) minority of Romania. It is celebrated every last Sunday of October. On it, candles, torches a ...

(

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

)

Last Monday: October 31

October Holiday In Ireland, the October Holiday (sometimes called the October Bank Holiday, ga, Lá Saoire i Mí Dheireadh Fómhair or ''Lá Saoire Oíche Shamhna'') is observed on the last Monday of October. Usually, but not always, this is the day after the en ...

(

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

)

Fixed observances

Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry octobre

October 1 Events Pre-1600 * 331 BC – Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. * 366 – Pope Damasus I is consecrated. * 959 – Edgar the Peaceful becomes king of all England, in succession to Eadwig. ...

** Armed Forces Day (South Korea) **

(

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

) ** Day of Prosecutors (

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

) **Continuance of German-American Heritage Months, which runs from September 15 – October 15 (

) **Continuance of

National Hispanic Heritage Month National Hispanic Heritage Month (Spanish: ''Mes nacional de la herencia hispana'') is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, cul ...

which runs from September 15 – October 15 (

), ** Ground Forces Day (

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

) **

Independence Day (Cyprus) The Independence Day of Cyprus is a national holiday observed by The Republic of Cyprus on 1 October every year. The day celebrates the independence of Cyprus from British rule on 16 August 1960, which was guaranteed by Greece, Turkey and the Uni ...

**Independence Day (Nigeria) **Independence Day (Palau) **Independence Day (Tuvalu) **International Coffee Day **International Day of Older Persons **International Music Council, International Music Day **Lincolnshire Day (

) **National Day of the People's Republic of China (People's Republic of China) **Pancasila Sanctity Day (Indonesia) **Teacher's Day (Uzbekistan) **Unification Day (Cameroon) **World Vegetarian Day *October 2 **Batik Day (Indonesia) **Feast of the Guardian Angels ***National Grandparents Day#Italy, National Grandparents Day (Italy) **Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi's birthday-related observances: ***Gandhi Jayanti (India) ***International Day of Non-Violence ***World Day for Farmed Animals **Independence Day (Guinea) *October 3 **Gaecheonjeol (South Korea) **German Unity Day (

) **Iraq#British Mandate and Kingdom, National Day (Iraq) **Morazán Day (Honduras) *October 4 ** Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi **List of food days#Sweden, Cinnamon Roll Day (Sweden) **Day of Peace and Reconciliation (Mozambique) **Independence Day (Lesotho) **World Animal Day **The beginning of World Space Week (October 4–10) *October 5 **Armed Forces Day#Indonesia, Armed Forces Day (Indonesia) **Constitution Day (Vanuatu) **Engineer's Day (Bolivia) **International Day of No Prostitution **Republic Day (Portugal) **Teachers' Day (Pakistan) **Teachers' Day#By country, Teachers' Day (Russia) **World Teachers' Day *October 6 **Day of Commemoration and National Mourning (Turkmenistan) **Dukla Pass Victims Day (Slovakia) **German-American Day (

) **Memorial Day for the Martyrs of Arad (Hungary) **List of food days#October, National Noodle Day (

) **

(

) **Yom Kippur War commemorations: ***Armed Forces Day (Egypt) ***Tishreen Liberation Day (Syria) *October 7 **Our Lady of the Rosary **List of awareness days#October, International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day **

(Laos) *October 8 **Indian Air Force, Air Force Day (India) **Arbor Day#Namibia, Arbor Day (

) **National Independence Day (Croatia) **Peruvian Navy, Navy Day (Peru) *October 9 **Hangul Day (South Korea) **Independence Day (Uganda) **Independence of Guayaquil (Ecuador) **Leif Erikson Day (United States, Iceland and Norway) **National Day of Commemorating the Holocaust (Romania) **Takayama Autumn Festival (Takayama, Gifu, Takayama, Japan) **World Post Day **Valencian Community Day (Spain) *October 10 **

(Poland) **Capital Liberation Day (Vietnam) **Double Ten Day (Taiwan) **Fiji Day (Fiji) **Finnish Literature Day (Finland) **Independence Day (Cuba) **Party Foundation Day (North Korea) **World Mental Health Day *October 11 **General Pulaski Memorial Day (United States) **International Day of the Girl Child **Newspaper Carrier Day, International Newspaper Carrier Day **National Coming Out Day (multinational, including United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland among others) **Old Michaelmas Day (Celts, Celtic) **Revolution Day (Republic of Macedonia) *October 12 **

(

) **Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, Columbus-related observances (''see also October 8''): ***Columbus Day (Honduras) ***Día de la Hispanidad or Fiesta Nacional de España, also Armed Forces Day (Spain) ***Día de la Raza (

, Uruguay) ***Día de la Resistencia Indígena, "Day of Indigenous Resistance" (Venezuela) ***Día de las Américas (Belize) ***Día de las Culturas, "Day of the Cultures" (Costa Rica) ***Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural, "Day of respect for cultural diversity" (

) **Discovery Day (The Bahamas, Colombia) **Feast for Life of Aleister Crowley, celebrated as "Crowleymas" (Thelema) **Fiesta Nacional de España (Spain) **Freethought Day **Independence Day (Equatorial Guinea), celebrates the independence of Equatorial Guinea from Spain in 1968. **UN Spanish Language Day (United Nations) *October 13 **Public holidays in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Railway Day (

) **Doi taikomatsuri October 13–15 (Shikokuchūō, Ehime, Japan) **International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction **National Police Day (Thailand) **Public holidays in Poland, Paramedics' Day (Poland) **Rwagasore Day (Burundi) *October 14 **World Standards Day *October 15 **Europa Donna, Breast Health Day (Europe) **Public holidays in Tunisia, Evacuation Day (Tunisia) **Global Handwashing Day **Public holidays in Cambodia, King Father's Commemoration Day (Cambodia) **National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (United States) **Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (United States and Canada) **Spirit Day (

) **

(Brazil) **White Cane Safety Day (United States) *October 16 **World Food Day **Pope John Paul II Day (Poland) **World Anaesthesia Day *October 17 **Dessalines Day (Haiti) **International Day for the Eradication of Poverty **Loyalty Day (Argentina) *October 18 **Alaska Day (Alaska, United States) **Independence Day (Azerbaijan) **Necktie Day (Croatia) **Persons Day (Canada) **International Menopause Society#Resources and publications, World Menopause Day *October 19 ** Niue Constitution Act, Constitution Day (Niue) ** Mother Teresa Day (Albania) ** World Toilet Day *October 20 **Arbor Day#Czech Republic, Arbor Day (Czech Republic) **Heroes' Day (Kenya) **Revolution Day (Guatemala) **Vietnamese Women's Day (Vietnam) **World Osteoporosis Day **World Statistics Day *October 21 **Apple Day (United Kingdom) **Public holidays in Honduras, Armed Forces Day (Honduras) **Public holidays in Egypt, Egyptian Naval Day (Egypt) **Central Reserve Police Force, Indian Police Commemoration Day (India) **International Day of the Nacho **National Nurses' Day (Thailand) **Ndadaye Day (Burundi) **Overseas Chinese Day (Taiwan) **Trafalgar Day (the British Empire in the 19th and early 20th century) *October 22 **Gustav Fechner, Fechner Day (

) **Caps lock#International Caps Lock Day, International Caps Lock Day **International Stuttering Awareness Day **Jidai Matsuri (Kyoto,

) **Public holidays in Indonesia, National Santri Day (Indonesia) **Wombat Day (

) *October 23 **Armed Forces Day#Brazil, Aviator's Day (Brazil) **Chulalongkorn Day (Thailand) **Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle (Republic of Macedonia) **Liberation Day (Libya) **Mole Day (

) **National Day (Hungary) **Public holidays in Cambodia, Paris Peace Agreement Day (Cambodia) *October 24 **Azad Kashmir Day (Pakistan) **Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Day of Special Forces of the Armed Forces (Russia) **Food Day (United States) **Independence Day (Zambia) **Suez Day (Egypt) **United Nations Day (

) **World Development Information Day **World Polio Day *October 25 **Armed Forces Day (Romania) **Constitution Day (Lithuania) **Public holidays in Russia, Customs Officer's Day (Russia) **National Day, Day of the Basque Country (Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country) **Retrocession Day (Taiwan) **Sovereignty Day (Slovenia) **Thanksgiving Day (Grenada) **The Hallowing of Nestorius (Nestorian Christianity) *October 26 **Accession Day (Jammu and Kashmir) **Angam Day (Public holidays in Nauru, Nauru) **Armed Forces Day (Benin) **Intersex Awareness Day (

) **Culture of Austria#Public holidays, National Day (Austria) *October 27 **Black cat#Adoption and Black Cat Day, Black Cat Appreciation Day (

) **Černová massacre, Černová Tragedy Day (Slovakia) **Flag Day (Greece) **Independence Day (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) **Independence Day (Turkmenistan) **Navy Day (United States) (unofficial, official date is October 13) **World Day for Audiovisual Heritage *October 28 **Day of the Establishment of an Independent Czecho-Slovak State (Czech Republic and Slovakia) **International Animation Day **Ohi Day (Greece, Cyprus) **1891 Mino–Owari earthquake, Prefectural Earthquake Disaster Prevention Day (Gifu Prefecture, Japan) **Youth Pledge Day (Indonesia) *October 29 **Coronation Day (Cambodia) **Cyrus the Great Day (Iran) **National Cat Day (United States) **Republic Day (Turkey) **World Stroke Day *October 30 **Anniversary of the Declaration of the Slovak Nation (Slovakia) **Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions (former Soviet republics, except Ukraine) **Public holidays in Indonesia, Indonesian Banknote Day (Indonesia) **International Orthopaedic Nurses Day **Mischief Night (United States and Canada) ***Beggars Night (certain regions of the United States) ***Devil's Night (Michigan, United States) **Thevar Jayanthi (Thevar, Thevar community, India) *October 31 **Start of Allhallowtide October 31 – November 6 **The first day of the Day of the Dead, celebrated until November 2 (

) **Día de la Canción Criolla (Peru) **Eve of Winter, the eve of the first day of winter in the Northern hemisphere: ***Allantide (Cornwall,

) ***Halloween (Halloween around the world, English-speaking countries, also in other locations) ***Hop-tu-Naa (Isle of Man,

) ***Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane in the Southern Hemisphere; begins on sunset of October 31 (Gaelic calendar, Gaels, Welsh people and Neopagan Wheel of the Year) **Scouts' Day#Founders.27 Days, Girl Scouts Founders Day (

) **King Father's Birthday (Cambodia) **Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, National Unity Day (India) **Reformation Day (Slovenia, parts of Germany, Chile, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Evangelical Churches and Lutheranism, Lutheran Churches) **Saci day (

) **World Savings Day **List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union, Statehood Day

, United States

Miscellaneous

*Eric Whitacre composed a piece based on this month, titled October (Concert Band), ''October''. *Neil Gaiman wrote a story personifying the month, titled "October in the Chair", for his 2006 collection ''Fragile Things''. *Ray Bradbury published a collection of short stories titled ''The October Country'' in 1955. * The song ''October doth before us go'' celebrates the progression of spring (from the perspective of the Southern Hemisphere).

External links

{{Authority control October, Months, *10