October is a month of colorful change, as leaves turn vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. It’s a time for Halloween decorations, candy corn and cheering for favorite teams on the gridiron and at the World Series. Historically, almanacs portray October as a transitional period, marking the end of the harvest and the start of winter preparations. From its full moon to forgotten holidays, October holds many surprises. As A.A. Milne wrote in 1920, “The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here’s to October.” 

 

Origins of October

In Latin, “octo” means eight—October’s place in the Roman calendar when March was the first month. It is now the 10th month in the Gregorian calendar. In Old England, October was called Winmonath, or “wine month,” for the season’s wine production, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It was also known as Winterfylleth, meaning “winter full moon.”

October was known as Winmonath (“wine month”) in Old England due to wine production at the time, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It was also called Winterfylleth (“winter full moon”), signaling the arrival of winter.

 

Seasonal Oddities and Astronomical Facts

October’s full moon, known as the hunter’s moon, was named by the Algonquin people as it signaled hunting season before winter. It follows the harvest moon, which can occur in September or October (if the harvest moon appears in October, it replaces the hunter’s moon). The term “hunter’s moon” was first recorded in 1710, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Orionids meteor shower, which peaks mid-October, comes from debris off Halley’s Comet. NASA notes that it’s renowned for its bright, fast meteors, which sometimes create glowing trails or fireballs. 

October also features one of four cross-quarter days, which mark the midpoint between solstices and equinoxes. Ancient Celts celebrated Samhain, or “summer’s end,” on October 31, which evolved into Halloween. 

 

Interesting Things That Happened in October

• On October 8, 1871, the Peshtigo Fire, the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history, devastated northern Wisconsin on the same night as the Great Chicago Fire. According to the National Weather Service, it killed more than 1,200 people and likely was caused by a brush fire started by railroad workers clearing tracks.

• In October 1726, Englishwoman Mary Toft's bizarre medical hoax convinced doctors that she had given birth to rabbits, drawing the interest of King George I. She eventually confessed to the fraud in December, admitting she had manually inserted the animal parts, according to the University of Glasgow.

• To correct calendar drift, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, removing 10 days from October in 1582. After October 4, the calendar jumped to October 15.  

• On October 25, 1415, during the Battle of Agincourt, French knights, burdened by heavy armor, struggled to advance across a rain-soaked, muddy battlefield. This severely hindered their mobility, contributing to their defeat against the more agile English forces.

 

Forgotten Holidays and Celebrations

Halloween stems from Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of summer, the beginning of winter and the start of the new year on November 1. Celts believed that on October 31, spirits could return to Earth. Druids built large bonfires for sacrifices, and people wore animal-skin costumes to tell fortunes. 

Though Oktoberfest is widely associated with beer, the ancient festival of Meditrinalia centered on wine. According to William Smith’s 1875 A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, it was celebrated on October 11 and involved tasting new wine and offering it to the gods. Some attribute the festival to Meditrina, the Roman goddess of health and wine. 

Lesser-known national holidays you may want to pencil in this month: 

National Hagfish Day, celebrated the third Wednesday of October, honors the slimy, jawless fish that secretes a sticky goo and eats dead matter. 

International Ship in a Bottle Day, held October 4, pays tribute to the founder of the Ship in a Bottle Association of America.

Sweetest Day, celebrated the third Saturday in October, originated in Cleveland as a day for philanthropy and kindness. According to the State Library of Ohio, the National Confectioners Association initially called it “Candy Day” in 1916.

 

October’s Animal Mascot

Think of Halloween, and bats, black cats, spiders and toads often come to mind. But don’t forget the owl. Symbolic of wisdom and omens, the bird is strongly associated with Samhain, when it was seen as a messenger between the living and dead. October is sometimes called Owl Month or hooting season, according to Washington State University, as owls become more vocal during this time as they establish their winter turf or prepare for mating season.