October 1, 2021
What is Special about the Month of October?
By Eloise Graham
October has two birthstones. The first is the opal, a stone said to reflect the mood of the wearer. It intensifies emotions, encouraging freedom and independence. The pink tourmaline is the second birthstone, a gem with the meaning of love, compassion and emotional healing.
The two birth flowers of October are strikingly different; the pastel-hued cosmos and the radiant calendula. The cosmos flower is representative of the joy that one finds in peace and love. The calendula, also known as marigold, is said to be the symbol of tranquility and grace. The Anglo-Saxons’ name for October was Winterfyfleth. This name contained the words winter and full moon. The Saxons had a name for October, also. Theirs was Wyn Monath, which translates into Wine Month because it was the time of the year to make wine.
There are many health observances that have October as their national month. These include Healthy Lungs, Breast Cancer Awareness, Lupus, Spina Bifida, Blindness, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Other national observances are Italian American Heritage, Polish American Heritage, and National Hispanic Heritage Month ( which began on September 15 and goes for a month until October 15). It is also National Pizza and National Dessert accompanied by Country Music Month.
National Fire Prevention Week falls during the week of October 9th. This date commemorates the Great Chicago Fire and the Wisconsin Peshtigo Fire of 1871.
The beer-swilling Bavarian festival Oktoberfest is held every year in Munich, Germany since 1810. (However, it was cancelled in 2020) This 16-day festival runs from mid-September until the Sunday of the first weekend in October. The event was a festival to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Therese, the princess of Saxony-Hidburghausen. On October 2, 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was born. The world-famous Indian political and spiritual leader gained recognition by the nonviolent way in which he resisted the colonial British rule of India.
Some other days to mention are International Coffee Day on October 1, or World Vegetarian Day also on October 1. World Animal Day is October 4 and World Food Day is celebrated on October 16. Also on October 4 is National Noodle Day. And World Food Day shares its day with National Fossil Day.
