From marigolds to monarchs to meteor showers, October is a fascinating month. Learn all about this crisp and cool autumn month with these fun facts about October.
Basic Facts About October
October is the tenth month of the year.
In some countries, its most notable holiday is Halloween, celebrated on October 31.
October is in the season of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a spring month in the Southern Hemisphere.
Now, let’s move on to some fun facts about October.
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October Fun Facts
These fun facts about October will give you new insight into everyone’s favorite fall month!
October and Octopus Are Related
The words October, octopus, and octagon are all related. They all have the prefix “oct-” meaning eight.
This makes sense for the eight-legged octopus and the eight-sided octagon, but what about October?
It’s the tenth month!
October used to be the eighth month of the year in the ancient Roman calendar.
Back then, there were only ten months.
When January and February were added to the start of the year, October was pushed from the eighth slot to the tenth.
Its name echoes its former position.
October’s Birth Stones Are Dazzling
October is known in the Northern Hemisphere for its bright and bold leaf colors, but its gems are equally bold and bright.
October has two birthstones: opal and tourmaline.
Opal’s name means “changing color” in Greek, and that is because the milky white stone reflects rainbow sparkles of light.
It symbolizes hope.
Tourmaline comes in various colors, including purple, pink, green, and black. It is associated with protection from harm.
October’s Birth Flower Is Bright Orange or Yellow
It’s no surprise that one of October’s birth flowers is the traditional colors of fall: brilliant yellow or orange.
The marigold comes in yellow or orange, and it is traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary. That is where it gets its name.
It symbolizes passion and creativity.
October’s other birth flower is the cosmos, a delicate pink and purple flower associated with peace.
Monarchs Fly 3,000 Miles in October
Every October, monarch butterflies undertake their great migration from the US and Canada to Mexico.
Some monarchs fly over 3,000 miles to reach their winter home.
What is especially amazing is that these butterflies travel to the same winter home as generations past, even though they have never been there themselves.
Scientists believe they use the sun’s position and the Earth’s magnetic pull as their guides.
October is the Main Month for Meteors
October is the peak month for meteor showers. The month can have as many as seven showers.
Most famously, the Orionids peak around October 20-21. You can see as many as 20 meteors (also called shooting stars) an hour during these nights.
They are named Orionids because they seem to originate around the constellation of Orion (at least from our perspective).
Halloween Began as the Festival of Samhain
In ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celts believed that the souls of the departed visited their former homes on October 31.
This was also the night that the souls of those who died that year would travel to the underworld.
The Celts lit bonfires to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks to avoid being recognized by evil spirits who might torment them.
For more on Halloween, check out Halloween Fun Facts.
Are you curious about other October holidays? Read Weird Holidays in October.
The World Series Is Every October
October is the month of Major League Baseball’s pinnacle series: the World Series.
The World Series began in 1903 as a contest between the top teams in the National League and the American League.
The team that wins the best out of seven games clinches the series.
The winning team gets the Commissioner’s Trophy, a silver trophy with thirty gold flags for all the teams in the major leagues.
Each player on the winning team also receives a ring (each ring costs around $20,000).
The October Birth Tree Is Not a Tree
The October birth tree is not a tree. It is ivy, which is a vine with a woody stem.
Because ivy can bind different plants together, it symbolizes peace and fidelity.
Columbus Landed in America in October
Everyone learns in school that “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety-two.”
Did you know he actually landed in the Americas in the month of October?
On October 12, 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahamas on an island the indigenous people called Guanahani.
Today, the national holiday, Columbus Day, is on the second Monday of October because it is near October 12.
The second Monday of October is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
John Lennon Was Born in October
The famous Beatles legend was born on October 9, 1940.
Other notable people born in October include Eleanor Roosevelt, Pablo Picasso, Mahalia Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, Julie Andrews, Usher, Hugh Jackman, and Katy Perry.
Interesting Facts About October
These fun facts about October highlight some of the amazing events, customs, and symbols of the month.
Share them with a friend who has an October birthday or with anyone who would like to learn a little more about this autumnal month.