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 went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...

s. Its length is 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 languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

and

Greek Greek may refer to: 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 of all kno ...

''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 is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...

, one of three Mundus patet would take place on October 5, Meditrinalia October 11, Augustalia on October 12,

October Horse In Religion in ancient Rome, ancient Roman religion, the October Horse (Latin ''Equus October'') was an animal sacrifice to Mars (mythology), Mars carried out on October 15, coinciding with the end of the Roman agriculture, agricultural and mili ...

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 weap ...

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

Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the English, were a Cultural identity, cultural group who spoke Old English and inhabited much of what is now England and south-eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. They traced t ...

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

autumn Autumn, also known as fall (especially in US & Canada), 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 ( Southern Hemisphe ...

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 by humans as being in the same celestial sphere, celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the Solar ...

, and

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 he ...

in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to

April April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Its length is 30 days. April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the ...

in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa.

Symbols

October's

birthstone A birthstone is a gemstone that represents a person's birth period, usually the month or zodiac sign. Birthstones are often worn as jewelry or a pendant necklace. History of birthstones Western custom The first-century historian Josephus bel ...

s are the

tourmaline Tourmaline ( ) is a crystalline silicate mineral, silicate mineral group in which boron is chemical compound, compounded with chemical element, elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. This gemstone comes in a ...

and

opal Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silicon dioxide, silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3% to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6% and 10%. Due to the amorphous (chemical) physical structure, it is classified as a ...

. 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 and south celestial latitude of the ecliptic – the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. Within this zodiac ...

signs 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 onward).. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.

Observances

''This list does not necessarily imply either official status or general observance.''

Non-Gregorian: 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 a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, bu ...

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 2–3 ...

List of observances set by the Islamic calendar All Islamic calendar, 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 Calenda ...

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 to 2023. {, class="wikitable" , - style="background:#efefef;" ! Holiday date !!Holiday name !! Description !!March equinox on March 19 !!M ...

Month-long

Black History Month Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Af ...

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 Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

*In

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

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 aware ...

* 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 girls. 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 composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

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

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

is in the first month of its regular season, the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

is about halfway through its regular season, and

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

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

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...

. Days on which all four leagues play are colloquially known as a

sports equinox Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada traditionally include four leagues: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

. *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 National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of being the voice of victims and survivors of domestic violence. Based in Denver, Colorado. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence ...

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 * National Work and Family Month

= 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 oral cavity clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and adopting good hygiene habits. It is important that oral hygiene be carr ...

Month * National Healthy Lung Month * National

Infertility In biology, infertility is the inability of a male and female organism to Sexual reproduction, reproduce. It is usually not the natural state of a healthy organism that has reached sexual maturity, so children who have not undergone puberty, whi ...

Awareness Month * Liver Awareness Month * National

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, blood cells, heart, ...

Awareness Month * National

Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

Month * National

Spina Bifida Spina bifida (SB; ; Latin for 'split spine') is a birth defect in which there is incomplete closing of the vertebral column, spine and the meninges, membranes around the spinal cord during embryonic development, early development in pregnancy. T ...

Awareness Month *

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sometimes known as cot death or crib death, 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 ...

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 term also refers to the snack food produced by the expansion. It is one of the oldest snacks, with evidence of p ...

Poppin' Month * National Pork Month * National Seafood Month

Movable 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 various countries, intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. History This event was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, t ...

: October 1 * World Cerebral Palsy Day: October 6 * World College Radio Day: October 7 * Earth Science Week: October 9–15 *See also

Movable Western Christian observances {{Update, date=February 2023 This is a list of Moveable feast, movable observances within Western Christianity. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily imply either official ...

*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 Easter, Pascha. It includes secular observances which are calculated by religious observances. ''This list does not necessarily im ...

First Sunday

Daylight saving time Daylight saving time (DST), also referred to as daylight savings time, daylight time (Daylight saving time in the United States, United States and Daylight saving time in Canada, Canada), or summer time (British Summer Time, United Kingdom, ...

begins (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

) *

Father's Day Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. "Father's Day" complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother's Day and, in som ...

(

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

) * Grandparents Day (

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

) *

Teachers' Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers. It 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, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...

Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

)

First Monday

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 ...

(

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

) *

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honour 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 western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

) *

Labour Day Labour Day is an annual day of celebration of the labour movement and its labor rights, achievements. It has its origins in the trade union, labour union movement, specifically the Eight-hour day movement, eight-hour day movement, which advoca ...

(

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory until 1938, is an internal States and territories of Australia, territory of Australia. Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is situated within the territory, an ...

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

) * Peat Cutting Monday (

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; ), commonly referred to as The Falklands, 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 from Cape Dub ...

) *

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

(

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Saint Vincent ...

) * 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 w ...

First Tuesday

National Night Out National Night Out is a community policing awareness-raising event in the United States, held the first Tuesday of August. Texas celebrates on the first Tuesday in October. History National Night Out was established by Matt Peskin in the wester ...

(

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

and

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

)

First Wednesday

(

)

First Thursday

National Poetry Day National Poetry Day is a British campaign to promote poetry, including public performances. Annually, on the first Thursday of October, events, readings and performances take place across the UK. National Poetry Day was founded in 1994 by Wil ...

(UK, Ireland)

First Friday

(

) *

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 c ...

(

) *

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

First full week

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 ...

(

)

Second Sunday

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 lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

)

Second Monday

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. He went ashore at ...

(

) **

Indigenous Peoples' Day Indigenous Peoples' Day may refer to: * International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, a United Nations event recognised as a public holiday in various countries observed annually on 9 August * Indigenous Peoples' Day (United States) Indi ...

(Parts of the United States) **

Native American Day Native American Day is a holiday observed in several US 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 t ...

(

South Dakota South Dakota (; Sioux language, Sioux: , ) is a U.S. state, 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 Dakota people, Dakota Sioux ...

) *

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 Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

) *

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 ...

(

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

) *

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 Mar ...

(

Malawi Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over and ...

) * Norfolk Island Agricultural Show Day (

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island ( , ; ) is an States and territories of Australia, external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head, New South Wales, Evans Head and a ...

) *

Thanksgiving (Canada) Thanksgiving () or Thanksgiving Day (), is an annual Canadian holiday held on the second Monday in October. Outside the country, it may be referred to as Canadian Thanksgiving to distinguish it from the American holiday of the same name and ...

* National Day (

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

)

Second Tuesday

Ada Lovelace Day Ada Lovelace Day is an annual event held on the second Tuesday of October to celebrate and raise awareness of the contributions of women to STEM fields. It is named after mathematician and computer science pioneer Ada Lovelace. It started in 200 ...

Second Wednesday

* Policy Statement of Belgian Parliament (

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

)

Wednesday of second full week in October

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

(

)

Second Thursday

* World Sight Day

Second Friday

Arbor Day Arbor Day (or Arbour Day in some countries) is a Secularity, 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 v ...

(

Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...

) *

World Egg Day The world is the totality of entities, the whole of reality, or everything that exists. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the world as unique, while others talk of a "plu ...

Second Saturday

International Migratory Bird Day Bird Day or World Migratory Bird Day is the name of several holidays celebrating birds. Various countries observe such a holiday on various dates. World Migratory Bird Day In 2006, the United Nations established World Migratory Bird Day to be he ...

(

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, Central and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, and the

Caribbean The Caribbean ( , ; ; ; ) is a region in the middle of the Americas centered around the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, mostly overlapping with the West Indies. Bordered by North America to the north, Central America ...

) * Home Movie Day (

International observance Lists of holidays by various categorizations. Religious holidays Abrahamic holidays (Middle Eastern) Christian holidays *Christmas (Nativity of Jesus, Nativity of Jesus Christ, the beginning of Christmastide) *Solemnity of Mary, Mother ...

) * National Tree Planting Day (

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

)

Week of October 10

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 ceremonies ...

(

Fiji Fiji, 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 of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

)

Second Week of October

Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention Week is a nationally observed week in the United States and Canada from the Sunday to Saturday in which October 9 falls. In the United States, the first Presidential Proclamation of the week was made in 1925 by Calvin Coolidge. ...

(

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

) ** Fire Service Recognition Day (

), last day of Fire Prevention Week:

Third Sunday

Teacher's Day Teachers' Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers. It 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 c ...

(

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

) *

(

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

)

Third Monday

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 ...

(

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

) *

(

) * Nanomonestotse ( Native American communities) *

Boss's Day Boss's Day (also written Bosses Day or Boss' Day) is generally observed on October 16 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. It has been described as a H ...

(United States, Canada, Lithuania and Romania)

Third Thursday

* International Credit Union Day

Third Saturday

* Sweetest Day (

)

Fourth Monday

(

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

)

Fourth Wednesday

(

)

Fourth Friday

* Global Champagne Day

Fourth Saturday

(

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

) * Make a Difference Day (

)

Week of Fourth Wednesday

* Children's Week (

)

Last Monday

* October Holiday (

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

)

Last Friday

* National Bandanna Day (

) *

Nevada Day Nevada Day is a legal holiday in the state of Nevada in the United States. It commemorates the state's October 31, 1864 admission to the Union. The first known observance of Nevada Day (originally known as Admission Day) was by the Pacific Coast P ...

(

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

) (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

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 t ...

ends * Grandparents Day (

) *

Székely Autonomy Day The Székely Autonomy Day (; ) is a day celebrated by the Székely ( Hungarian) minority of Romania. It is celebrated every last Sunday of October. On it, candles, torches and fires are lit on Székely cities, villages and settlements to dema ...

(

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

)

Fixed

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 E ...

** Armed Forces Day (South Korea) **

(

El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of 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 by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

) ** Day of Prosecutors (

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

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

) **Continuance of National Hispanic Heritage Month which runs from September 15 – October 15 (

), **Public holidays in Russia#List of other public holidays, commemorative and professional days, Ground Forces Day (Russia) **Independence Day (Cyprus) **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 of Mesopotamia and independent 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) **Public holidays in North Macedonia, Revolution Day (North Macedonia) *October 12 **

(

) **Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, Columbus-related observances (''see also October 8''): ***Columbus Day (United States, 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 ** Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist **Alaska Day (Alaska, United States) **Day of Restoration of Independence (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) *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 (North 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) **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).

References

External links

{{Authority control October, Months, *10