Welcome October!

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.

It’s October! Even though the current temperatures say August, it is indeed October. The time of pumpkins, leaves, festivals, and, of course, spooks has its share of traditions and folklore that spans centuries. The weather soon will break, and the cooler nights and shorter days that are to come will make it feel more like autumn.

The month of October gets its name from the Latin octo, meaning eight, because on the Roman Calendar October was the eighth month. When the Romans converted to a 12-month calendar, the name stuck.

The Full Hunter’s Moon will happen in October. The Hunter’s Moon is one of two named full moons through the year that isn’t tied to a specific month. Since it is the first full moon after the Harvest Moon, it can occur either in October or November. This year, it happens on October 13th. While looking toward the heavens, keep an eye out for the Draconid meteor shower in the late evening of October 9, and the Orionid meteor shower in the predawn hours of October 21–22.

The folklore of October ring true, according to the old farmers. Some of the old sayings include:

-When deer are in a gray coat in October, expect a hard winter.

-A warm October means a cold February.

-If there’s much rain in October, December will be windy.

Besides Halloween and Columbus Day, October is also the month of some interesting celebrations and observances. It is National Pizza Month, Popcorn Month, Pork Month, and Sausage Month. It’s also Italian American Heritage Month, Polish American Heritage Month, and National Breast Cancer Month.

More American Presidents were born in the month of October than in any other month. These include John Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Jimmy Carter.

The World Series in baseball happens in October, and the NBA and NHL start their seasons.

Even though the region has been in the 90’s, the average temperatures for October are usually in the 70’s with lows in the mid 50’s. The outlook has the regional temperatures going back to normal toward the end of the month, so fret not, the spooky cool nights of October will return soon! The sandals will be traded in for boots, and long Sunday drives will be for leaf peeping.

Source: Angie Stanley, Jefferson County Post Staff