October

October is the tenth month of the Gregorian calendar and has 31 days. The name derives from Latin octo, meaning eight, reflecting its position in the early Roman calendar when it was the eighth month before January and February were added to the front of the year.

Historically, October was part of the old Roman calendar as the eighth month. After calendar reforms, it became the tenth month. In the modern calendar, the number of days per month is fixed, and October remains 31 days long.

In the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere, October typically brings autumn, while in the Southern Hemisphere it signals spring. The month features seasonal changes, harvest activities, and various cultural observances. The Orionid meteor shower, arising from debris from Halley’s Comet, often peaks in October. The full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox is sometimes called the Harvest Moon, with the following full Moon sometimes referred to as the Hunter’s Moon in some years.

Notable holidays and observances around October include World Mental Health Day (October 10), World Food Day (October 16), United Nations Day (October 24), World Animal Day (October 4), and Halloween (October 31). October is widely associated with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in many countries, and in the United States there is an emphasis on National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Astrologically, Libra covers roughly late September to late October, followed by Scorpio. The birthstones for October are opal and tourmaline.