OCTOBER
Birthstone: Opal
Flower of the month: Cosmos, Calendula
Health Awareness:
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Liver Awareness Month
Holidays and Events:
2nd – International Day of Non-Violence (the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) The
United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Non-Violence is a global observance that
promotes non-violence through education and public awareness. It is annually held
on October 2 to coincide with renowned Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
The International Day of Non-Violence promotes ways to stop violence.
https://www.un.org/en/events/nonviolenceday/
5th - The World Teachers' Day, Held annually on 5 October since 1994, World
Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO
Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recommendation sets
benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for
their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching
and learning conditions. The Recommendation concerning the Status of
Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966
Recommendation by covering teaching and research personnel in higher education.
https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldteachersday
Child Health Day, First Monday of October Child Health Day is held annually on the first Monday of October, elevating the publics knowledge and interest in children's health in our nation.
https://www.calendardate.com/child_health_day.htm
World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday
of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. https://www.iapb.org/advocacy/world-sight-day/
10th – World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
https://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/en/
12th - Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day (Observed on the second Monday in October in the United States)
Christopher Columbus was an Italian-born explorer who set sail in August 1492, bound for Asia with backing from the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella aboard the ships the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.
Columbus intended to chart a western sea route to China, India and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia. Instead, on October 12, 1492, he landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas since the
Vikings established colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century.
It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage.
But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous Peoples' Day.
https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/columbus-day
31st - Halloween Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31.
The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as
All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.
https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween