The month of October, the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar, received its name from the Latin numeral octo, meaning “eight” because in the days of the old Roman calendar, it was the eighth month.
One of the notable days in October is Columbus Day, October 9, honoring the discovery of America by the Italian map-maker and explorer, Christopher Columbus. It is celebrated as Discovery Day in Central and South America and was set aside as a holiday in the United States in 1892 by President Harrison.
Hawaii has a special October event called “the Aloha Festival,” sometimes described as the “Mardi Gras of the Pacific.” It is observed with pageantry, street dancing, hula festivals, luaus, parades, and fancy balls.
October gave its name to one of the best-known German fall festivals. Oktoberfest, started on October 17, 1810, the wedding day of King Ludwig I. It still retains the name,, even though the festivities may start in September, with October having only a partial share of the time schedule. Octoberfest was cancelled in 2020 due to Coronavirus. The 187th Oktoberfest in 2022 will take place from September 16 until October 3.
An important October day for the entire world is Oct 24, United Nations Day, which commemorates the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945. It is a holiday for many of the member nations and is generally observed by all nations as a way of publicizing the aims and achievements of the world organization.
The month ends with Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve. It is a religious festival in some countries but a trick-or-treat night in the United States – a time for small children in costume to roam through their neighborhoods to solicit candy or cookies.
The flowers for October are the calendula
and the cosmos. 
The birthstones are the opal and the tourmaline.
…from Gregory, Ruth W. Anniversaries and Holidays, Third Edition;. Chicago: American Library Association, 1975.
The month is:
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- American Pharmacist Month
- Awareness Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Clergy Appreciation Month
- Computer Learning Month
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Eat Country Ham Month
- International Drum Month
- Lupus Awareness Month
- National Apple Month
- National Applejack Month
- National Caramel Month
- National Cookbook Month
- National Cookie Month
- National Dessert Month
- National Diabetes Month
- National Pasta Month
- National Pickled Peppers Month
- National Pizza Month
- National Popcorn Popping Month
- National Pork Month
- National Pretzel Month
- National Vegetarian Month
- Sarcastic Month
- National Seafood Month
Weekly Celebrations during the month:
- Week 1 Get Organized Week
- Week 1 Customer Service Week
- Week 2 Fire Prevention Week
- Week 2 Pet Peeve Week
- Week 3 Pastoral Care Week
October 31 is Nevada State Day. In 1864 Nevada became the 36th state in the Union.