~The Meaning Of October

This month's name came from the Latin Octo, "eight", because this was the eighth month of the early Roman calendar. When the Romans converted to a 12-month calendar, the name October stuck, even though now it's the 10th month.

The early Roman calendar, thought to have been introduced by Rome's first king, Romulus (around 753 b.c.) was a lunar calendar. This ancient timekeeping system contained these 10 months: Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December. Martius, Maius, Quintilis, and October contained 31 days, while the other months had 30, for a total of 304 days. In the winter, the days were not counted for two lunar cycles. It wasn't until about 713 b.c. that a calendar reform, attributed to the second Roman king, Numa Pompilius, added the months Ianuarius and Februarius. Some historians think that both months were placed at the end of the year, while others believe that Ianuarius became the first month and Februarius the last. Later reforms organized the months as they are arranged today in the Gregorian calendar, whereby October became the 10th month in spite of it's name.

~October Holiday Happenings

*Tuesday, October 8, Yom Kippur begins at sundown.

*Monday, October 14, is a busy day, with three holidays packed into it:

<Canadian Thanksgiving. This holiday shares many similarities with it's American equivalent. However, there are a number of things that set the two Thanksgiving holidays apart!

<Columbus Day (U.S.). Observed on the second Monday in October. It was on October 12, 1492, that Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that  he had reached Asia.

<Indigenous Peoples' Day (U.S.). A holiday that celebrates the history and cultures of indigenous peoples native to what is today the United States. Indigenous Peoples' Day is celebrated in cities and states across the country.

*Friday, October 18, is St. Luke's Little Summer. This is a date stepped in folklore. Traditionally, around Saint Luke's feast day, there is a period (briefly) of calm, dry weather.

*Thursday, October 24, is a United Nations Day, which aims to bring awareness to the work of the United Nations across the world.

*Thursday, October 31, is Halloween (All Hallows' Eve)! Do you know the true history of Halloween? It's not a frightful as you might think!

*Thursday, October 31, also begins Mercury Retrograde. It's said intuition is high during this time, so keep your third eye open, for spirits and the like on Halloween night!

~Wacky Days In October

*October 4: International Ships-in-Bottles Day

*October 6: National Noodle Day

*October 16: National Fossil Day

*October 24-November 11: World Origami Days

*October 25: Frankenstein Friday

~Astronomy And The Moon

The leaves they are a-changin'.

With the autumnal equinox in late September, foliage season has officially begun across much of the U.S. Did you know the foliage color is triggered by the amount of daylight (not weather)!

The Full Hunter's Moon - Sunday, October 13. The first full moon of fall will appear on Sunday, October 13, reaching peak fullness at 5:08 pm EDT (though it won't be visible until a little later, just after sunset). The Hunter's Full Moon is one of only two full moon names that isn't tied to a specific month. Instead, the Hunter's Moon always directly follows the Harvest Moon, which means that it can occur in either October or November.

Also, Keep an eye out for the Draconid meteor shower in the late evening of October 9, and the Orionid meteor shower in the predawn hours of October 21-22.

~Gardening

October is all about storing vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Fall is the best time to plant garlic and bulbs for spring flowers. Do these tasks soon if you haven't yet.

~October Birth Flowers

October's birth flowers are the cosmos and the calendula or marigold. Cosmos is a symbol of joy in life and love and of peace.

The calendula represents winning grace, grief, or chagrin in the language of flowers.

~October Birthstone

The October birthstone is the opal, which symbolizes faithfulness and confidence.

Gem quality opals are know for their play of color, caused by the defraction of light.

They are available in several types, including black, fire, and white opals. Common opals do not shimmer.

Opals symbolize hope and purity and were once thought to improve eyesight or enhance intuition. Throughout history, the gem's reputation has oscillated between standing for luck and standing for lack of luck. According to some, those born in October are immune from any possible negative effects.

~Folklore For The Season

*When deer are in a gray coat in October, expect a hard winter.

*Much rain in October, much wind in December.

*In October dung your field, and your land your wealth shall yield.

*Good October, a good blast. To blow the hog acorn and mast.