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2024

October is the tenth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. The eighth month in the old calendar of Romulus c. 750 BC, October retained its name (from Latin and Greek ôctō meaning "eight") after January and February were inserted into the calendar that had originally been created by the Romans. In Ancient Rome, one of three Mundus patet would take place on October 5, Meditrinalia October 11, Augustalia on October 12, October Horse on October 15, and Armilustrium on October 19. These dates do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar. Among the Anglo-Saxons, it was known as Winterfylleth (Ƿinterfylleþ), because at this full moon, winter was supposed to begin.[1]

Maple leaf in October (Northern hemisphere).

October is commonly associated with the season of spring in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, and autumn in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to April in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

Symbols

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The calendula
 
An opal armband. Opal is the birthstone for October.
 
Cut tourmaline

October's birthstones are the tourmaline and opal.[2] Its birth flower is the calendula.[3] The zodiac signs are Libra (until October 22) and Scorpio (from October 23 onward).[4][5]

Observances

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

 
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, whose devotion and Feast are celebrated in October

Non-Gregorian: 2024 dates

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(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.)

Month-long

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United States

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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 begins its preseason and about two weeks later starts the regular season, the National Hockey League is in the first month of its regular season, the National Football League is about halfway through its regular season, and Major League Baseball is in its postseason with the League Championship Series and World Series. Days on which all four leagues play are colloquially known as a sports equinox.[18]

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United States, culinary
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Movable dates

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First Sunday

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First Monday

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First Tuesday

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First Wednesday

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First Thursday

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First Friday

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First full week

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Second Sunday

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Second Monday

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Second Tuesday

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Second Wednesday

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Wednesday of second full week in October

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Second Thursday

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Second Friday

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Second Saturday

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Week of October 10

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Second Week of October

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Third Sunday

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Third Monday

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Third Thursday

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Third Saturday

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Fourth Monday

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Fourth Wednesday

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Fourth Friday

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Fourth Saturday

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Week of Fourth Wednesday

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Last Monday

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Last Friday

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Last Sunday

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Fixed

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October, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
 
A shop in Derry decorated for Halloween
 
Halloween pumpkins

Miscellaneous

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  1. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "October" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ "Gemstone Leaflet" (PDF). Jewelers of America. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-22. Retrieved Jan 22, 2012.
  3. ^ SHG Resources. "Birth Months, Flowers, and Gemstones". SHG Resources. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  4. ^ The Earth passes the junction of the signs at 22:59 UT/GMT October 22, 2020, and will pass it again at 04:51 UT/GMT October 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Astrology Calendar", yourzodiacsign. Signs in UT/GMT for 1950–2030.
  6. ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Special Devotions For Months". Newadvent.org. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  7. ^ "Health Literacy Month – Finding the Right Words for Better Health". www.healthliteracymonth.org.
  8. ^ "SDMS Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month". www.sdms.org.
  9. ^ "Home - Rettsyndrome.org". www.rettsyndrome.org. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  10. ^ [1] Archived February 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Hultin G. Why Celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month? Food & Nutrition, October 7, 2014, Accessed November 14, 2018". 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on July 16, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  12. ^ "Vegetarian Awareness Month: Celebrating Meatless Mindfulness, Oldways website, September 28, 2017, Accessed November 14, 2018".
  13. ^ "World Vegetarian Day, October 1. North American Vegetarian Society (the North American WVD sponsor explains that "World Vegetarian Day [on] October 1st is the annual kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month", accessed November 14, 2018".
  14. ^ "Palmer S. World Vegetarian Awareness Month. Vegan Outreach website, October 2, 2017, Accessed November 14, 2018". 3 October 2017.
  15. ^ "October is National Vegetarian Awareness Month. Fix.com. October 1, 2014, Accessed November 14, 2018". October 2014.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month. Fruits & Veggies: More Matters. Monday, October 14, 2013, at 4:00 am. Accessed November 14, 2018".
  17. ^ "Gerber J. 9 Easy Wasys to Celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month. Care2. October 1, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2018". Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  18. ^ "Yahoo Sports AM: Happy Sports Equinox!". Yahoo Sports. 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  19. ^ "American Archives Month". National Archives. 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  20. ^ "October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month". ASPCA. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  21. ^ "About NCSAM". www.staysafeonline.info. Archived from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  22. ^ "American Pharmacists Month 2011". Pharmacist.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  23. ^ "Little People of the World".[dead link]
  24. ^ "Little People of America". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  25. ^ "Eczema Awareness Month – National Eczema Association". National Eczema Association. Archived from the original on 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  26. ^ "ADHA – October is National Dental Hygiene Month". Adha.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  27. ^ "Healthy Lung Month – Lung problems". 5 October 2012.
  28. ^ "Observing Infertility Awareness Month". Library.adoption.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  29. ^ "Liver Awareness Month". www.liverfoundation.org. 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  30. ^ [2] Archived November 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ APTA | National Physical Therapy Month Archived January 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Spina Bifida Association – Spina Bifida Association". Sbaa.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  33. ^ "October is SIDS Awareness Month". www.nichd.nih.gov. 20 October 2014.
  34. ^ "National Pizza Month". Pizza.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  35. ^ "Popcorn Poppin' Month". Popcorn.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  36. ^ "October is National Pork Month". ThePigSite. 2007-10-02.
  37. ^ "NOAA Fisheries Celebrates National Seafood Month". NOAA.gov. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  38. ^ Szoó, Attila (26 October 2020). ""Brussels should pay attention to the Szeklers" – Day of Szekler Autonomy". Transylvania Now.
  39. ^ "Diversity – UMUC". www.umuc.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  40. ^ "October doth before us go (feat. Leisha Stevens)". YouTube. 31 October 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  41. ^ "October doth before us go (feat. Leisha Stevens)". Amazon. Retrieved 30 September 2021.