Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31, which commonly includes activities such as trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays dates back to the Middle Ages and includes Christmas wassailing. Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of souling, when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls' Day (November 2). It originated in Ireland and Britain, although similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy.

Halloween as it is celebrated these days is but a pale representation of its rich and multicultural history. It is not, as some would call it, a celebration of the Devil or of Hell or of the Damned, but rather a blending of the celebrations marking the end of the growing season, a heralding of the coming of the winter months and folk traditions that told of the day when the veil between the living and the dead, ever a transparent, gossamer veil at that, would lift and ghosts and ghouls would walk among the living. From those many traditions, coming to us from the Celts, the Roman rituals and even Catholic tradition, we get the stirrings of what would eventually become Halloween.

Back in the old days, or once upon a time, in the tradition of fairy tales, there were the Celtic people and their Druid priests. The Druids were believed to have the ability, among other skills, to commune with the dead. Their powers, it was rumored, were much more powerful on the day of Samhain (pronounced sow-en), which was the last day of the year in the Celtic calendar. But, before believing that the Halloween celebration came directly from Samhain, a day mistakenly attributed directly to the Wiccans rather than to the Celts, you must understand that it is a blend of Hallowmas, a celebration of Catholic origins, as well as the Roman festival called Feralia.

On the day of Samhain, the Celtic people would all extinguish their home’s hearth fire. They would gather in front of a blessed bonfire and would sing, dance and listen to the stories that were told during the celebration. At the end of the evening, each person would take some of the bonfire home to relight their heart fire in hopes of ensuring good fortune to their home and family for the coming year. It is said that if your hearth fire would not light from the sacred bonfire, misfortune, even death, would befall someone in the house that very year.

By the 19th century, most of the religious aspects of the Halloween celebration had dwindled away and it was mostly a secular holiday, a gathering of community with only some of the remnants of the past clinging to it like the cobwebs of a haunted house. People would still dress up in costume, but less for the original reason of confusing the dead and more for just plain entertainment and fun.

European immigrants brought many of their traditions and beliefs with them to the New World, even those that were sometimes frowned upon or scoffed at. Halloween itself was largely disallowed, even forbidden, but in Maryland, the tradition was not only allowed but encouraged. The people there held what they called “play parties” where they would take turns telling each other’s fortunes, dancing, singing and telling ghost stories. The children would dress in costumes and try to scare one another as well.

The Irish immigrants came to the new world in great masses, fleeing from the Potato Famine that was starving them to death, and brought with them the Halloween tradition of going door to door looking for sweets and other treats. The tradition of trick or treating is still a favorite among little children today.

October Famous Birthdays

October 1, 1904- Vladimir Horowitz, pianist
October 1, 1920- Walter Matthau, actor
October 1, 1921- James Whitmore, actor
October 1, 1924- Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. President (1977-1981)
October 1, 1924- William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
October 1, 1927- Tom Bosley, actor
October 1, 1928- George Peppard, actor, the leader in TV series "A-Team"
October 1, 1935- Julie Andrews, actress, singer, "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music"
October 1, 1950- Randy Quaid, actor, "cousin "Eddy" in "Vacation" movies
October 1, 1963- Mark McGwire, MLB baseball slugger, home run record holder
October 2, 1890- Groucho Marx, comedian, "Marx Brothers"
October 2, 1895- Bud Abbott, comedian, comedy team "Abbott & Costello"
October 2, 1928- George McFarland, actor "Spanky" on "Spanky and Our Gang"
October 2, 1937- Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., attorney
October 2, 1945 -Don McLean, singer, songwriter, wrote and sang "Miss American Pie"
October 2, 1951- Gordon Sumner, musician, songwriter "Sting"
October 2, 1970- Kelly Ripa, actress, "Regis and Kelly" and TV series "Hope & Faith"
October 3, 1902 -Harvey Kurtzman, created "Mad" magazine
October 3, 1941- Chubby Checker, singer, musician
October 3, 1959- Jack Wagner, actor
October 4, 1181- St. Francis of Assisi, Catholic religious leader
October 4, 1822- Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th U.S. President (1877-1881)
October 4, 1861- Frederic Remington, painter, sculptor
October 4, 1895- Buster Keaton, comedian
October 4, 1924- Charlton Heston, actor , NRA President
October 4, 1941- Jackie Collins, author
October 4, 1946 -Susan Sarandon, actress
October 4, 1976- Alicia Silverstone, actress
October 5, 1829- Chester A. Arthur, 21st  U.S. President (1881-1885)
October 5, 1882- Robert Hutchings Goddard, father of the Space Age
October 5, 1902- Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's
October 5, 1923- Glynis Johns, actress, played in "Mary Poppins" 
October 5, 1963- Laura Davies, LPGA golfer
October 5, 1965- Mario Lemieux, NHL hockey player
October 5, 1975- Kate Winslet, actress, "Rose" in movie "Titanic"
October 6, 1846- George Westinghouse, engineer, inventor, developed AC electric power
October 6, 1906- Janet Gaynor, actress
October 6, 1914- Thor Heyerdahl, anthropologist, explorer
October 6, 1956- Stephanie Zimbalist, actress
October 6, 1963- Elisabeth Shue, actress
October 7, 1917- June Allyson, actress
October 7, 1931- Desmond Tutu, archbishop, won Nobel Peace Prize
October 7, 1943- Oliver North, National Security Council
October 7, 1951- John Mellencamp, singer
October 7, 1059- Simon Cowell, judge on "American Idol"
October 7, 1966- Toni Braxton, singer
October 8, 1890 "Eddie" Rickenbacker, WWI flying ace
October 8, 1936- David Carradine, actor
October 8, 1939- Paul Hogan, actor
October 8, 1941- Jesse Jackson, civil right leader
October 8, 1943- Chevy Chase, actor, comedian, SNL, "Vacation" movies
October 8, 1943- R. L. Stine,  author of children's books
October 8, 1949 -Sigourney Weaver, actress, "Ellen Ripley" in movie "Alien"
October 8, 1956- Stephanie Zimbalist, actress, starred in "Remington Steele"
October 8, 1970- Matt Damon, actor
October 9, 1938- Russell Myers, cartoonist, created "Broom Hilda"
October 9, 1940- John Lennon, singer, songwriter, musician, member of the "Beatles"
October 9, 1948- Jackson Browne, singer, songwriter
October 9, 1953- Sharon Osbourne, actress, wife of Ozzie Osbourne
October 9, 1955- Scott Bakula, actor, TV series "Quantum Leap" and "Star Trek- Enterprise"
October 9, 1981- Zacary Ty Bryan, actor, "Brad" on TV series "Home Improvement"
October 10, 1900- Helen Hayes, actress
October 10, 1914- Dorothy Lamour, actress
October 10, 1946 -Ben Vereen, actor, singer
October 10, 1958- Tanya Tucker, singer
October 10, 1969- Brett Favre, NRL Green Bay Packers quarterback
October 10, 1974- Dale Earnhardt Jr, auto racer
October 11, 1844- Henry John Heinz, founded Heinz Ketchup company
October 11, 1884- Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady, wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt
October 11, 1932- Dottie West, singer
October 11, 1937- Ron Leibman, actor
October 11, 1948- Daryl Hall, musician, singer
October 11, 1961- Steve Young, NFL San Francisco 49er's quarterback
October 11, 1962- Joan Cusack, actress
October 11, 1966 Luke Perry, actor
October 12, 1935- Luciano Pavarotti, opera singer
October 12, 1947- Chris Wallace, TV news correspondent
October 12, 1950- Susan Anton, actress, singer
October 12, 1950- Ronald McNair, astronaut, physicist, died in Challenger space shuttle explosion
October 12, 1970- Kirk Cameron, actor
October12, 1975- Marion Jones, Olympic track star
October 13, 1925- Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of England
October 13, 1941- Paul Simon, singer, songwriter, "Simon & Garfunkel"
October 13, 1949- Sammy Hagar, singer, musician
October 13, 1957- Chris Carter, created "The X-Files"
October 13, 1959- Marie Osmond, actress, singer ,Brother-Sister duo "Donny & Marie"
October 13, 1962- Jerry Rice, NFL San Francisco 49ers wide receiver
October 13, 1969- Nancy Kerrigan, Olympic figure skater
October 13, 1980- Ashanti, singer, songwriter
October 14, 1644- William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania
October 14, 1890- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th U.S. President (1953-1961)
October 14, 1894- E. E. Cummings, poet
October 14, 1916- C. Everett Koop, U.S. Surgeon General
October 14, 1927- Roger Moore, actor , played "James Bond"
October 14, 1938- John Dean, Nixon White House counsel during Watergate
October 14, 1939- Ralph Lauren, fashion designer
October 14, 1979- Usher, Rap singer
October 15, 1908- John Kenneth Galbraith, economist
October 15, 1917- Arthur Schlesinger Jr., historian
October 15, 1920- Mario Puzo, novelist, wrote "The Godfather"
October 15, 1924 -Lee Iacocca,  Chrysler auto executive, led turnaround of company
October 15, 1943- Penny Marshall, actress, director
October 15, 1946- Richard Carpenter, singer, with sister Karen Carpenter
October 15, 1959- Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and first wife of Prince Andrew
October 15, 1959- Emeril Lagasse, TV chef
October 15, 1969- Vanessa Marcil- actress, TV soap opera "General Hospital"
October 16, 1758- Noah Webster - compiled first American English dictionary
October 16, 1854- Oscar Wilde, poet, playwright
October 16, 1886- David Ben-Gurion, first Prime Minister of Israel
October 16, 1898- William O. Douglas, Supreme Court Justice
October 16, 1925- Angela Lansbury, actress, "Murder, She Wrote"
October 16, 1946- Suzanne Somers, actress, "Chrissy" on TV series "Three's Company"
October 16, 1958- Tim Robbins, actor, director
October 16, 1975- Kellie Martin, actress
October 17, 1912- Pope John Paul I, pope for just 34 days in 1978
October 17, 1918- Rita Hayworth, actress
October 17, 1938- Evel Knievel, motorcycle daredevil
October 17, 1948- Margot Kidder, actress
October 17, 1948- George Wendt, actor
October 17, 1963- Norm McDonald- actor, "SNL"
October 17, 1972- Eminem, Rap singer
October 18, 1926- Chuck Berry, singer, songwriter, starred in movie "Patton"
October 18, 1939- Mike Ditka, NFL Chicago Bears head coach
October 18, 1939- Lee Harvey Oswald, assassinated President John F. Kennedy
October 18, 1956- Martina Navratilova, tennis champion
October 18, 1960- Jean-Claude Von Damme, actor
October 19, 1922- Jack Anderson, columnist, journalist
October 19, 1932- Robert Reed, played the dad on TV series "The Brady Bunch"
October 19, 1945- John Lithgow, actor , comedian
October 19, 1962- Evander Holyfield, champion heavyweight boxer
October 20, 1882- Bela Lugosi, actor, played "Dracula"
October 20, 1925- Art Buchwald, humorist
October 20, 1931- Mickey Mantle, MLB baseball slugger
October 20, 1935- Jerry Ohrbach, actor
October 20, 1953- Tom Petty, singer
October 20, 1972- Snoop Dogg, Rap singer
October 21, 1833- Alfred Nobel, chemist, engineer, established Nobel Prizes
October 21, 1917- Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet player, bandleader
October 21, 1926- Whitey Ford, MLB baseball pitcher
October 21, 1956- Carrie Fisher, actress, "Princess Leia" in "Star Wars"
October 22, 1903- Curly Howard, actor, comedian, one of the "Three Stooges"
October 22, 1917- Joan Fontaine, actress
October 22, 1920- Timothy Leary, psychologist, Harvard professor, and 60's guru
October 22, 1938- Christopher Lloyd, actor
October 22, 1942 Annette Funicello, actress, singer, beach movies
October 22, 1943- Catherine Deneuve, actress
October 22, 1963- Brian Boitano, Olympic champion figure skater
October 22, 1968- Shaggy,  Reggae/pop singer, sang "It wasn't Me"
October 23, 1893- Gummo Marx, agent for the "Marx Brothers"
October 23, 1906- Gertrude Ederle, first woman to swim the English Channel
October 23, 1925- Johnny Carson, Talk show host, "The Tonight Show". Tv Talk Show Host Day
October 23, 1935- Chi Chi Rodriguez, professional golfer
October 23, 1940- Pelé, soccer player
October 23, 1942- Michael Crichton, novelist, wrote "Jurrasic Park"
October 23, 1959- "Weird Al" Yankovic, singer, comedian
October 23, 1962- Doug Flutie, CFL and NFL quarterback
October 24, 1926- Y. A. Tittle, NFL quarterback
October 24, 1930- J.P. Richardson, singer, the "Big Bopper", sang "Chantilly Lace"
October 24, 1936- David Nelson, actor, son of Ozzie and Harriet on TV series "The Nelsons"
October 24, 1947- Kevin Kline, actor
October 24, 1980- Monica Arnold, singer
October 25, 1881 -Pablo Picasso, artist
October 25, 1888- Richard E. Byrd, aviator, Antarctic explorer
October 25, 1912- Minnie Pearl, singer, entertainer, Grand Ole Opry star
October 25, 1940- Bobby Knight, College basketball coach
October 25, 1941- Helen Reddy, singer
October 25, 1941- Anne Tyler, novelist
October 26, 1879- Leon Trotsky, Russian Communist leader
October 26, 1914- Jackie Coogan, "Uncle Fester" on TV series "The Addams Family"
October 26, 1947- Jaclyn Smith, actress, K-Mart fashion line, TV series "Charlie's Angels"
October 26, 1947- Hillary Rodham Clinton, first lady, NY Senator
October 26, 1947- Pat Sajak, TV game-show host , "Wheel of Fortune"
October 26, 1954- Lauren Tewes, "Julie" on TV series the "Love Boat"
October 26, 1962- Dylan McDermott, actor
October 26, 1963- Natalie Merchant, singer
October 27, 1858- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th  U. S President, Quote: "Walk softly and carry a big stick" (1901-1909)
October 27, 1872 -Emily Post, etiquette expert
October 27, 1914 Dylan Thomas, poet
October 27, 1920- Nanette Fabray, actress
October 27, 1940- John Gotti, crime boss
October 27, 1956- Patty Sheehan, LPGA golfer
October 28, 1914- Jonas Salk, physician, developed polio vaccine
October 28, 1936 -Charlie Daniels, singer, songwriter, musician
October 28, 1939- Jane Alexander, actress
October 28, 1944- Dennis Franz, actor, "NYPD Blue"
October 28, 1949- Bruce Jenner, Olympic decathlon champion
October 28, 1955- Bill Gates, Microsoft executive, multi-multi billionaire
October 28, 1967- Julia Roberts, actress, "Pretty Woman", "My Best Friends' Wedding", many more
October 29, 1891- Fanny Brice, entertainer
October 29, 1947- Richard Dreyfuss, oscar winning actor, movies include "Jaws" and "Goodbye Girl"
October 29, 1948 Kate Jackson, actress , TV series "Charlie's Angels"
October 29, 1971- Winon Ryder, actress, "movie "Girl, Interrupted"
October 30, 1735- John Adams, 2d U.S. President (1797-1801)
October 30, 1882- William "Bull" Halsey, World War II Pacific Fleet Commander
October 30, 1885- Ezra Pound, poet
October 30, 1945- Henry Winkler, actor
October 30, 1951- Harry Hamlin, actor, attorney "Michael Kuzak" on TV series "L.A. Law"
October 31, 1795 John Keats, poet
October 31, 1860- Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of America
October 31, 1887- Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese leader
October 31, 1912- Dale Evans, the "Queen of the West", born Frances Octavia Smith
October 31, 1922- Barbara Bel Geddes, actress "Miss Ellie Ewing" on TV series "Dallas"
October 31, 1931- Dan Rather, TV News Anchorman
October 31, 1936- Michael Landon, actor
October 31, 1950- John Candy, actor, comedian
October 31, 1950- Jane Pauley, TV journalist
October 31, 1963- Dermot Mulroney, actor
October 31, 1967- Vanilla Ice, singer, actor

BirthStones for October

Zodiac Signs do not run by the calendar month, so October contains two signs: Libra and Scropio.

Libra (Sept 23 to Oct 22)
Opal

Scorpio (Oct 23 to Nov 22
Topaz

The traditional birthstone for the month of October (1-31) is the Opal.

October Daily Observances

October 1

Fire Pup Day
Fall Astronomy Day
Inter-American Water Day (First Saturday)
International Day of Older Persons
National Lace Day
World Card Making Day
World Vegetarian Day

October 2

Change A Light Day
Guardian Angels Day
International Day of Non-violence
Phileas Fogg's Wager Day
National Custodial Workers Day
Techie's Day
World Communion Day
World Farm Animals Day

October 3

Child Health Day
World Habitat Day

October 4

Blessing of The Animals Day (aka Blessing of the Pets Day,
World Pet Day)
Improve Your Office Day
Kanelbullens Dag (Cinnamon Roll Day)
Ten-Four Day
World Animal Day

October 5
World Teachers Day
Balloons Around The World Day (First Wednesday)

October 6
Ecological Debt Day
Jackie Mayer Rehab Day
Mad Hatter Day
National German-American Day

October 7

Cephalopod Awareness Day
Lee's National Denim Day
National Diversity Day
World Smile Day
Yom Kippur

October 8
Alvin C. York Day
National Depression Screening Day
Universal Music Day
National Pierogy Day

October 9
International African Diaspora Day
Leif Erikson Day
National Chess Day
National Pro-Life Cupcake Day
World Post Day
Clergy Appreciation Day ( Always 2nd Sunday)

October 10
Columbus Day
National Day of Mourning (Native Americans)
International Newspaper Carrier
Native American (2nd Monday)
National Kick Butt
Naval Academy
World Mental Health

October 11
General Pulaski Memorial
National Coming Out
National Face Your Fears
Native Americans' (2nd Monday)

October 12
Emergency Nurses
Free Thought
International Moment of Frustration Scream
International Top Spinning
National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School

October 13
English Language
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
Navy Birthday
World Sight Day (2nd Thursday)

October 14
Alternative Fuel
Be Bald and Be Free
World Egg Day (2nd Friday)

October 15
International Day of Rural Women
National Grouch
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
White Cane Safety Day
Bridge Day
Sweetest Day

October 16
Dictionary Day
National Feral Cat Day
National Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day (3rd Sunday)
World Food Day
World Toy Camera Day

October 17

Black Poetry Day
Boss's Day
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Mulligan Day
National Cake Decorating Day
National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day(3rd Monday)

October 18

National Chocolate Cupcake Day
Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity
World Menopause Day

October 19

Evaluate Your Life Day
Hagfish Day (3rd Wednesday) 
Medical Assistants Recognition Day

October 20
Information Overload Day
Miss American Rose Day
Birth of the Bab
Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce
Get to Know Your Customers Day
Get Smart About Credit Day
International Credit Union Day

October 21
Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) Prevention Day
Mammography Day
Reptile Awareness Day
Simchat Torah

October 22
International Stuttering Awareness Day
Make A Difference Day

October 23
IPod Day
Mother-in-Law Day (always 4th Sunday)
National Mole Day

October 24
United Nations Day
World Development Information Day
Lung Health Day

October 25
Sourest Day
XTERRA World Championships

October 26

Diwali
Mule Day 
Perigean Spring Tides

October 27

Cranky Co-workers Day
Navy Day

October 28
National Chocolates Day
St. Jude's Day
Frankenstein Friday
International Bandanna Day
National Breadstix (Bread Sticks) Day

October 29
Internet Day
National Cat Day
National Forgiveness Day
World Psoriasis Day

October 30
Checklist Day
Create A Great Funeral Day
Devil's Night
Haunted Refrigerator Night
National Candy Corn Day
Reformation Sunday

October 31
Beggars' Night
Books For Treats Day
Halloween
National Caramel Apple Day
National Knock-Knock Jokes Day
National Magic Day
National UNICEF Day
Samhain         

October Week Long Observances

Albuquerque International Balloon Festival: 1-9
Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend: 1-2
Get Organized Week: 1-7
Universal Children's Week: 1-7
Great Books Week: 2-8
National Newspaper Week: 2-8
Mental Illness Awareness Week: 2-8
Mystery Series Week: 2-8
National Carry A Tune Week: 2-8
Nuclear Medicine Week: 2-8
Customer Service Week: 3-7 .
No Salt Week: 3-10
Spinning & Weaving Week: 3-9  .
World Dairy Expo: 4-8
World Space Week: 4-10
National Physicians Assistant Week: 6-12
National Storytelling Weekend: 7-9
New York Comic Con Week: 7-9
Pet Peeve Week: 8-15
Build Your Business with Business Cards Week: 9-15
Emergency Nurses Week: 9-15
National Chestnut Week: 9-15
Fire Prevention Week: 9-15
National Metric Week: 9-15
National School Lunch Week: 9-15
National Work From Home Week: 9-15
Home-based Business Week: 10-16
Kids' Goal Setting Week: 10-14
Take Your Medicine Americans Week: 10-16
World Rainforest Week: 10-16
Getting The World To Beat A Path To Your Door Week: 16-22
Kids Care Week: 16-22
National Save For Retirement Week: 16-22 .
Teen Read Week: 16-22
National Chemistry Week: 16-22
YWCA Week without Violence: 16-22 .
National Character Counts Week: 16-22
National Food Bank Week: 16-22
National Forest Products Week: 16-22
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: 16-22 . 
(always 3rd week)
Freedom From Bullies Week: 16-22
Freedom of Speech Week: 16-22 .
Medical Assistants Recognition Week: 16-22.
National School Bus Safety Week: 17-21
National Respiratory Care Week: 23-29 . (last full week)
Pastoral Care Week: 23-29
Disarmament Week: 24-30
.Peace, Friendship and Good Will Week: 24-30 .
Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week: 24-31
Red Ribbon Week: 24 - 28  .  (last  week)
International Magic Week: 25-31
National Massage Therapy Week: 25-29
World Hearing Aid Awareness Week: 27-10/3 .
Give Wildlife a Break Week: 31-11/6

October Monthly Observances

Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
American Pharmacist Month
Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
Apple Month .
Awareness MonthHome Month (10/1-3/31/08)

Bat Appreciation Month
Bullying Prevention Month .
Blindness Awareness Month (World)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Celiac Disease Awareness Month
Celebrating The Bilingual Child Month
Children's Magazine Month
Christmas Seal Campaign (10/1-12/31)
Church Library Month
Church Safety and Security Month
Class Reunion Month
Clergy Appreciation Month
Computer Learning Month
Cookie Month
Co-op Awareness Month
Cut Out Dissection Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month .
Dyslexia Awareness Month

Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Eat Country Ham Month
Emotional Intelligence Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Employee Ownership Month .
Energy Management -Improve Your

Fair Trade Month .
Financial Planning Month
Feral Hog Month or Hog Out Month

Gay & Lesbian History Month
German-American Heritage Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Go Hog Wild - Eat Country Ham

Halloween Safety Month
Head Start Awareness Month .
Health Literacy Month

International Augmentative & Alternative

Long Term Care Planning Month
Lupus Awareness Month

Month of Free Thought

National AIDS Awareness Month  .
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Bake and Decorate Month
National Book Month .
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Caramel Month  .
National Chili Month
National Chiropractic Month
National Crime Prevention Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month .
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Depression Education & Awareness Month
National Diabetes Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Down Syndrome Month
National Ergonomics Month .
National Family Sexuality Education Month - Let's Talk!
National "Gain The Inside Advantage" Month
National Go On A Field Trip Month
National Kitchen & Bath Month .
National Liver Awareness Month
National Medical Librarian Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Pizza Month
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month .
National Reading Group Month
National Roller Skating Month
National RSV Awareness Month .
National Sarcastic Awareness Month
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
National Vegetarian Month
National Window Covering Safety Month .
National Work and Family Month
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness

Organize Your Medical Information Month

Pear and Pineapple Month .
Photographer Appreciation Month
Pizza Month .
Polish American Heritage Month
Positive Attitude Month

Raptor Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
Rhizomes and Persimmons Month .
Rhubarb Month .
Right Brainers Rule! Month

Sausage Month
Sarcastic Month
Seafood Month
Self-Promotion Month
Spinach Lovers Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
Stamp Collecting Month

Tackling Hunger Month .
Talk About Prescriptions Month

Vegetarian Month

Wishbones for Pets Month (10/15 - 11/30)
World Menopause MonthMonthCommunication (AAC) Month
International Drum Month
International Starman Month
International Strategic Planning Month

United Nations Day

United Nations Day

Also called UN Day
Observed by Worldwide on Date 24 October

In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, as which "shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for" its work.

In 1971 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a further resolution (United Nations Resolution 2782) declaring that United Nations Day shall be an international holiday and recommended that it should be observed as a public holiday by all United Nations member states.

United Nations Day is devoted to making known to peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization. United Nations Day is part of United Nations Week, which runs from 20 to 26 October.

Samhain

(pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin) means "End of Summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbat. It is one of the eight pagan Sabbats. This Feast is the start of the pagan year.

It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort.

Originally the "Feast of the Dead" was celebrated in Celtic countries by leaving food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the "wandering dead". Today a lot of practitioners still carry out that tradition. Single candles were lit and left in a window to help guide the spirits of ancestors and loved ones home. Extra chairs were set to the table and around the hearth for the unseen guest. Apples were buried along roadsides and paths for spirits who were lost or had no descendants to provide for them. Turnips were hollowed out and carved to look like protective spirits, for this was a night of magic and chaos. The Wee Folke became very active, pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans. Traveling after dark was was not advised. People dressed in white (like ghosts), wore disguises made of straw, or dressed as the opposite gender in order to fool the Nature spirits.

This was the time that the cattle and other livestock were slaughtered for eating in the ensuing winter months. Any crops still in the field on Samhain were considered taboo, and left as offerings to the Nature spirits. Bonfires were built, (originally called bone-fires, for after feasting, the bones were thrown in the fire as offerings for healthy and plentiful livestock in the New Year) and stones were marked with peoples names. Then they were thrown into the fire, to be retrieved in the morning. The condition of the retrieved stone foretold of that person's fortune in the coming year. Hearth fires were also lit from the village bonfire to ensure unity, and the ashes were spread over the harvested fields to protect and bless the land.

Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's New Year.

Pumpkins

Did You Know? 001

Contrary to popular belief, most educated Europeans in Columbus' day understood that the world was round, but they did not yet know that the Pacific Ocean existed. As a result, Columbus and his contemporaries assumed that only the Atlantic lay between Europe and the riches of the East Indies.

Columbus Day

A U.S. national holiday since 1937, Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. The Italian-born explorer had set sail two months earlier, backed by the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. He intended to chart a western sea route to China, India and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia; instead, he landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.

 

Later that month, Columbus sighted Cuba and believed it was mainland China; in December the expedition found Hispaniola, which he though might be Japan. There, he established Spain's first colony in the Americas with 39 of his men. In March 1493, the explorer returned to Spain in triumph, bearing gold, spices and "Indian" captives. He crossed the Atlantic several more times before his death in 1506; by his third journey, he realized that he hadn't reached Asia but instead had stumbled upon a continent previously unknown to Europeans.

 

The first Columbus Day celebration took place in 1792, when New York's Columbian Order–better known as Tammany Hall–held an event to commemorate the historic landing's 300th anniversary. Taking pride in Columbus' birthplace and faith, Italian and Catholic communities in various parts of the country began organizing annual religious ceremonies and parades in his honor. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation encouraging Americans to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage with patriotic festivities, writing, "On that day let the people, so far as possible, cease from toil and devote themselves to such exercises as may best express honor to the discoverer and their appreciation of the great achievements of the four completed centuries of American life."

 

In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday, largely as a result of intense lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, an influential Catholic fraternal benefits organization. Originally observed every October 12, it was fixed to the second Monday in October in 1971.

 

Opposition to Columbus Day dates back to the 19th century, when anti-immigrant groups in the United States rejected the holiday because of its association with Catholicism. In recent decades, Native Americans and other groups have protested the celebration of an event that indirectly resulted in the colonization of the Americas and the death of millions: European settlers brought a host of infectious diseases, including smallpox and influenza, that decimated indigenous populations; warfare between Native Americans and the colonists claimed many lives as well. The image of Christopher Columbus as an intrepid hero has also been called into question. Upon arriving in the Bahamas, the explorer and his men forced the native peoples they found there into slavery; later, while serving as the governor of Hispaniola, he allegedly imposed barbaric forms of punishment, including torture.

 

In many Latin American nations, the anniversary of Columbus' landing has traditionally been observed as the Dìa de la Raza ("Day of the Race"), a celebration of Hispanic culture's diverse roots. In 2002, Venezuela renamed the holiday Dìa de la Resistencia Indìgena ("Day of Indigenous Resistance") to recognize native peoples and their experience. Several U.S. cities and states have replaced Columbus Day with alternative days of remembrance; examples include Berkeley's Indigenous Peoples Day, South Dakota's Native American Day and Hawaii's Discoverer's Day, which commemorates the arrival of Polynesian settlers.

 

In many parts of the United States, Columbus Day has evolved into a celebration of Italian-American heritage. Local groups host parades and street fairs featuring colorful costumes, music and Italian food. In cities and towns that use the day to honor indigenous peoples, activities include pow-wows, traditional dance and lessons about Native American culture.

October 2011 Holidays

Columbus Day   

October 10

2nd Monday in October

United Nations Day

October 24

Halloween

October 31

Samhain
In the Northern Hemisphere, 
the date for Samhain 2011
is October 31

Halloween Treats

Bones of the Dead Cookies

In a large bowl combine the flour, egg whites, sugar, and lemon juice.

Work in the nuts, leaving them whole, and continue kneading until you have a fairly firm dough.

Roll the ball of dough out with your hands on your work surface so as to obtain a snake; cut the snake into half-inch thick slices and shape the bit into bones with your hands.

Preheat your oven to 360 F (180 C).

Butter your cookie sheet, dust it with flour, lay the bones on it, and bake them for about 20 minutes.

Let cool before serving.

Creepy Crawly Spider Cookies

Place 1 cup of chocolate chips in a 2 to 4 cup glass measure.

Heat on high in the microwave for 1 minute.
Remove, stir, and heat on high for 1 minute.

Let set for 1 minute and stir until chips are melted.

Or melt chocolate chips in a heavy saucepan over low heat until melted.

Mix in the cereal and the coconut.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper for the spider bodies.

Melt the second cup of chocolate chips.

Gently stir in chow mein noodles (being careful not to break noodles up).

Pick noodles out one by one and attach them to the spider bodies for legs (8 to a spider).

Add dots of frosting for eyes.

Fall and Winter Tips for Pets

Noelle

Fall and winter and the holiday seasons all can pose special risks to your pets. Here are some tips for keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Maintenance Tips

Always provide fresh, clean water for your pet. If the weather is cold, please check their water for ice formation and remove the ice.

Indoor pets should be provided with a warm, dry area free from drafts. Provide bedding that is off cold floors, and wash bedding weekly if possible (the fleas will hate you).

Outdoor pets should have dry shelter out of the wind. Bring cats and dogs into the house if the weather conditions are rainy , snowy or weather conditions are severe (cold, etc).

Staying warm requires extra calories, pets may need more food or a change in diet. Talk to your veterinarian about your pets needs.
Ice, snow and mud-Remove ice, salt, mud, snow from your pets coats, feet as soon as possible. If the skin looks reddish, white or grey in cold weather, may be scaly or peeling, suspect frostbite if the weather has been really cold. Talk to a veterinarian immediately.

Shedding-Most dogs and cats shed their summer coats in the fall before putting on their winter coat. Most years this is light and not very noticable. Special attention should be paid to hair coats and daily or weekly brushing (as needed) should help your pet and you be happier.

Hazard Warnings!

*Cats and kittens like to nap on warm places, this can include car engines! Knock on the hood of your car or truck or honk the horn, then wait a few minutes before starting the engine. If in doubt, open the hood and look.

*Antifreeze smells good and tastes very sweet, Very small amounts can kill your pet. If a cat walks through in and then licks its paws, it will get enough. The damage is done by chemicals crystallizing in the kidney, so symptoms may not show up for a few days and then it may be too late. Thoroughly clean up any spills, store antifreeze in tightly closed containers and store where pets and children can't get to them. Sierra make a non toxic antifreeze. Do not dispose of antifreeze by pouring into the gutter and never let your pet drink from the gutters.

*Fall is the most common time of year for male cats to "block" or forming small " stones "that block the flow of urine from the bladder through the urethra. Any cat that seems to be straining "to go to the bathroom" should be checked by a veterinarian at once. One of the most common complaints I heard was that the owner thought the cat was constipated. Why this time of year? May have to do with decreased water intake.

*Halloween. Candy is not good for your pets, especially chocolate. Keep cats inside to avoid tricksters and possible encounters with cars, make sure that the dogs are kept safe ,with all the visitors and open doors to sneak out of, dogs can also get confused and frightened by the costumes.

*Holiday food. Alcoholic beverage, candy, chocolate, turkey and fixing, pork , fish, bones, just to name a few hazards...keep your pet on its regular diet. I always saw lots of dogs with vomiting and diarrhea right after Thanksgiving and Christmas, and some were very seriously ill. Another food related hazard is the plastic six-pack beverage holders, kittens especially can become entangled in them. Cut them up before putting into the garbage. This will also help the wildlife at the landfill too (especially birds).

*Poisonous plants--Many plants , including Christmas rose, holly, mistletoe, philodendron, dieffenbachia (see poisonous plant list) are toxic to your pet. Keep them out of your pets reach.

*Holiday paraphernalia- Electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, spray on-snow (some are non-toxic-read the label), ribbons, plastic or foil wrapping, etc. can be dangerous to your pet. Cover up or hide electric cords, never let your pet chew on them. Do not tie ribbons around pets necks or limbs. Watch out for rubber bands too. 

Safety Tips Help Prevent Halloween Hidden Dangers

Children around the country are eagerly anticipating the night when they will wear their favorite costume and search for fun and delicious treats. As Halloween creeps up, the Consumer Product Safety Commission  reminds parents and caregivers that when it comes to Halloween safety, there is no trick. Hidden dangers associated with costumes, treats, and decorations can be easily prevented, so that the holiday celebration is a real treat.

According to the CPSC, the most serious Halloween-related injuries involve burns from flammable costumes and decorations, including ignition from open flames, such as candles and Jack O’Lanterns. Other incidents have involved abrasions from sharp objects attached to masks or costumes.

“Home-made costumes that are not flame resistant continue to be the major concern,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “When making a costume, parents need to use inherently flame-resistant fabrics, such as nylon and polyester. Also, they should avoid long-draped items that could cause an entanglement hazard.”

CPSC helps keep children safe by enforcing the Flammable Fabrics Act and by recalling products at Halloween and throughout the year that can cause injury.
Follow these safety tips to ensure this year’s holiday is a safe one:

Costumes

• When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
  
• Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
  
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light-colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
  
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
  
• Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground to guard against trips and falls.
  
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels are not a good idea.
  
• Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes and obstructing vision.
  
• If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
  
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible materials.

Treats

• Warn children not to eat any treats until an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
  
• Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.

Decorations

• Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
  
• Indoors, keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
  
• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
  
• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
  
• Don't overload extension cords.

Fall Tips

* Fall is a great time to add to your compost . Leaves and other lawn and garden cleanup material are perfect for composting. Turn your compost material at least once a week with a garden fork to speed its decay. Chopping and shredding materials to make them smaller before adding to the pile helps compost break down faster.

* If you are in colder climes, the temperature in the pile may diminish. You may want to cover the compost pile to retain heat.

* Get your tools, especially your mower, ready for the off-season with a little simple maintenance. They'll be ready to go to work next year when spring fever strikes.

* Drain the water from garden hoses at the end of the season. Coil them and store them in a spot where they won't freeze.

* Birds are extremely susceptible to catching and transmitting diseases. If you
enjoy your feathered visitors, make sure the feeders, bath and ground underneath is clean. Also ensure that the food and water is changed or replaced.

* Outdoor lighting provides more than just safety. Use lighting to highlight plants and features in the landscape. Trees especially offer year-round interest when appropriately lighted.

* Plant a green manure crop. These cover crops are chosen for their nutrient value and are used by serious home gardeners as well as commercial agricultural growers.
* Clean up debris in the lawn and garden. Leaves, sticks, rocks and other late season leftovers can harm next year's lawn and harbor pests and diseases over the winter.

* Identify and repair slopes where erosion has occurred. Retaining walls and plants are two ways to control a slope.

House Hold Tips #2

Bathroom Odors: Place an opened box of baking soda OR an open container of activated charcoal behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.

Blood Stains: Soak the stain in hydrogen peroxide, wash (don't dry), and repeat if necessary. This tip works especially well for caret and clothes.

Carpet Stains: Baby wipes are miracle-workers on carpet stains, from motor oil to blood, they remove almost anything!

Candle Holders: To prevent the wax from melting and sticking to the inside of a votive candle holder, pour a bit of water in the holder, then place the candle on top. If you're reading this tip too late, and there's already wax stuck inside your candle holder, pop it in the freezer for an hour. The wax will chip right off.

Candle Wax: To remove wax from carpeting or other fabric, first scrape away any excess. Then, place a brown paper bag over the wax and run a warm iron over the bag. The wax will melt right into the bag! Continue moving the bag around as you pick up the wax so you are always using a clean section. If a little grease stain remains on carpet, sprinkle with baking soda and allow to sit overnight before vacuuming, which will remove the grease residue. If colored wax leaves a stain on carpet, blot with spot remover or carpet cleaner, following label directions.

Cast Iron Pans: To gently and effectively clean your cast iron skillets after most uses, wipe out excess food with a dry paper towel, then sprinkle salt inside the pan. Wipe clean with a clean, dry paper towel. The salt acts as an abrasive to scratch off any stuck-on particles of food without using soap and water, which can remove your seasoning. For stubborn stuck-on food, use a putty knife to scrape it off. You may, however, need to reseason the pan after doing this.

Ten Ways to Grow Your Spirit

Ten Ways to Grow Your Spirit

Tips on Spiritual Growth By Phylameana lila Desy, About.com

Esoteric Healing

 1. Embrace Your Talents
Recognize and further develop your intelligence and special gifts. Our talents are signifiers that lead us toward our unique paths. Follow your passion and you will soon discover where you fit in this world. When we squelch innate yearnings we lose our way.

About the Roles We Play 

Self Empowerment

2. Tie Up Loose Ends
Unresolved issues eat away at us emotionally and mentally. Tackle troubling things that need dealt with and put them to rest. In the meanwhile, learn not to allow future problems to be ignored. Our wounds fester when they are not attended to in a timely manner. Realize that buried problems always surface eventually. Dealing with difficulties as they arise rather than hiding from them is the best route.

Forgiveness 

Healing Our Emotional and Mental Bodies

3. Be Responsible in Your Relationships
Turn away from the "blame game" when it comes to addressing problems in your relationships. Be honest about the things that you have said or done that harmed the relationship. Own up to your own failures. Focus on changing your defeating patterns rather than expecting changes from the other person. 

As You Change Your Relationships Will Change
Spiritual Relationships: Partnering Through Change

4. Love Sometimes Means Saying Goodbye
Not all relationships are meant to last forever. We sometimes out grow our partners, or our partner goes off in a direction which makes us struggle to stay in step with. Sometimes, the most responsible thing you can do is to offer love and compassion to the person as you release the relationship.

At a Crossroads: Right or Wrong Decisions
Cutting Cords to Toxic Relationships

5. Let Go of Useless Attachments
If a thing no longer serves a purpose in your life, it is clutter. Clutter can be a physical thing or a belief that blocks your path. Holding on to things that don't feed you will instead eat up your energy. Free your space and expand your energy by getting rid of unwanted gifts, broken or useless items, self-defeating mental images, etc.

Full Moon Release Ritual
De-clutter Your Environment

6. Confront Your Inner Demons
Everyone makes mistakes or regrets past decisions. Exposing our frailties and recognizing that we are not perfect frees us from feeling stupid or "less than." Bring light to those things that you are not proud of and realize that through these experiences you have learned great lessons, and have likely become a better person for them. Keeping negative actions hidden can overshadow our spirits with shame or depression. We all deserve to live with joy regardless of our imperfections.

An Evolving Life Without Regrets
Healing Through Liberation From Regret and Denial

7. Accept Change - Go with the Flow
There is a fine line between caution and fear. We are meant to travel along a spiritual pathway. We are not meant to remain stunted in one place for very long. Yes, change can be scary. But, change is a path of learning, so why not follow it? When we resist change we can actually create chaos. Do you want to undertake a lesson down a path which you've chosen, or have lessons thrown at you down a path that was forced upon you?

Discovering Opportunity in Times of Challenge
Healing from Within - The Paradigm Shift

8. Accept Delays
There are times when we need to be still. Impatience or frustration will not help any situation. Desired changes sometime take time to unfold. You may feel like you are ready to jump into a new arena... but wait. The situation or person that you are wanting to meet may not be ready for you just yet. It's okay to sit at the bus stop for a few more minutes, the bus will arrive eventually. What's the hurry?

Are You in a Creative Void?
Ways to Calm an Anxious Spirit

9. Love and Honor Yourself
Are you taking good care of yourself? Your physical body is the vehicle that has been loaned to you to live out your life in and to assist growing your spirit with. Pamper your body, tend to your illnesses, exercise and give it the proper nutrients.

Steps to a Healthier and Happier You
Tips for a Healthy and Balanced Physical Body

10. Dealing with Death and Illness
Physical life is a gift that comes with a variety of experiences. Suffering and illness are bundled in with that package of experiences. Although our bodies have expiration dates, our spirits don't expire. Choosing to look at illness and death in positive ways rather than negatively will help to give your life here on the planet deeper meaning.

Hurdles to Wellness - Benefits to Sickness
Dealing with Grief