Did you know that October was not always the tenth month? October is the tenth month of the year in the modern day Gregorian calendar (which we use) and its predecessor, the Julian calendar.
But originally, October was the eighth month of the Roman calendar, with November and December being the ninth and tenth months respectively. Its name was derived from the Latin word for eight – octo, and has always had a length of 31 days. It became the tenth month of the year when King Numa Pompilius reformed the calendar, and added the months, January and February around 700 BCE.
Thus, after the calendar reform that resulted in a 12-month year, October became the tenth month but retained its numerical name as did the other months from September through December.
Quick Facts
- The night of October 31 and November 1 is Samhain, an old Celtic tradition that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Several modern observances believed to be related to this festival includes Halloween, celebrated on October 31 in many western traditions.
- October’s birth flower is the calendula.
- The birthstones for October are tourmaline and opal, and it is said that opal will crack if it is worn by someone who was not born in October.
