Fun Facts: Gear up for October Holidays
October’s just around the corner, and while you know about its most famous holiday already, you might not know some other fun facts about the month. If you’ve ever wondered why the tenth month has a name that means “eighth month,” chalk it up to the Romans. They used to mark October as their eighth month, but eventually, the Gregorian calendar added another two months to summer. Named after Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar, July and August pushed the fall months forward, making “eighth month” our current tenth month.
Halloween isn’t the only reason to celebrate October holidays. It’s also the national Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, so it’s a great time to consider a fluffy new addition to your family. Thousands of adorable puppies and dogs need new homes just before the holidays, and your local shelter will make it easier during October. When you bring your new pet home, give the pup a tent of his own with the pet cave, a cozy bed that lets pets snuggle up in comfort. The bed’s great for cats too, so if you have a favorite feline after Adopt a Shelter Cat Month in June, get a bed for each of your furry friends.
In the U.S., November is the month for Thanksgiving, but Canadians celebrate it a month earlier in October. The holiday is a celebration of the harvest, and as harvest time is earlier in northern climates, it makes sense to hold the feast when the food is at its best. Some people trace Canada’s October Thanksgiving celebrations to explorer Martin Frobisher and his search for a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, but others suggest it’s related to French settlers and their harvest feasts. Either way, October’s a great time for people on both sides of the border to enjoy harvest-fresh apples, pumpkins and more.
October babies are lucky when it comes to birthstones because they have their choice of three: opal, tourmaline and rose zircon. With their dazzling play of color, opals are one of the most beautiful semi-precious stones and symbolize October’s rapidly shifting weather. Delicate shades of rose in tourmaline and zircon gems are equally lovely for anyone who loves pink, but according to birthstone lore, the stones are especially lucky for those with October birthdays. Birthstone jewelry, including these guardian angel necklaces, usually feature sturdy zircons instead of fragile opals, but either is equally appropriate for October’s children.
Speaking of October holidays, you might be surprised at the number of famous October babies. Former presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter were both born in the Halloween month. Musicians Sting, Tom Petty and Gwen Stefani also celebrate their birthdays in October. Julie Andrews and Julia Roberts have more than big-screen fame in common; they’re both October kids too. Whether you mark a family birthday,Thanksgiving, Halloween or another major occasion in October, it’s a great month to celebrate.
As the weather turns cooler and harvest fruits and vegetables appear in stores, why not make your own October holidays and host an indoor event with dinner party essentials? These Thanksgiving leftover containers are perfect for big parties. It’s also National Chili Month, so make a Sunday afternoon football party in October delicious with chili dogs or bowls of the spicy stuff.
Image Credit: theposhcoincidence.blogspot.com
