October Fun Facts

Did you know?

• October is the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar. October received the name from the Latin numeral octo meaning "eight" because in the original Roman calendar it was the eighth month.

• Germany's Oktoberfest originally began on October 17, 1810, the wedding day of King Ludwig I.  However, the annual festivities usually start earlier, often in September.

• Daylight Savings Time ends every year at 2:00 A.M. local time on the last Sunday of October.

• October's flower is the Calendula.

• The last week in October is the only time of the year when all four major Sports Leagues schedule games - the NBA generally starts the week and the MLB is just ending.

October 1, 1896, free rural delivery of mail started in the United States.

October 4, 1957, the first artificial satellite was launched by the Soviet Union.

October 5, 1947, the first presidential telecast address from the White House was made by Harry S. Truman.

October 7, 1816, the Washington (first double-decked steamboat) arrived at New Orleans.

October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in America.

October 18, 1867, The U.S. flag was formally raised over Alaska.

October 22, 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first president of the Republic of Texas.

October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th state of the United States.

October Is...

Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
American Cheese Month
American Pharmacist Month
Apple Month
Arts & Humanities Month
National Applejack Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caramel Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Clergy Appreciation Month
Cookbook Month
Cookie Month
Cyber Security Awareness Month
Dessert Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Dwarfism/Little People Awareness Month
Eczema Awareness Month
Filipino-American History Month
German-American Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Italian-American Heritage Month
Lupus Awareness Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Roller Skating Month
Pasta Month
Pickled Peppers Month
Pizza Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Popcorn Popping Month
Pork Month
Positive Awareness Month
Pretzel Month
National Month of Sarcasm
Seafood Month
Squirrel Awareness & Appreciation Month
Vegetarian Month