Fun facts about October are the perfect party trick for autumn. This is the month that used to be the eighth month of the year, lost ten days in 1582, gave the world the Great Pumpkin, and is officially National Pizza Month. Whether you are settling a pub quiz debate or just love a good did you know, these 21 verified facts about October will genuinely surprise you.

What Are the Best Fun Facts About October?

Here they are: 21 fun facts about October, from ancient Rome to the modern pizza industry, each one stranger than the last.

1. October used to be the eighth month

The name comes from the Latin “octo”, meaning eight. In the early Roman calendar the year began in March, so October was month number eight. January and February were added later, shoving October into tenth place without anyone bothering to rename it. September, November and December have the same identity crisis: their names mean seven, nine and ten.

2. Ten days of October never happened

When Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582 to fix the drift of the Julian calendar, ten days were simply deleted. In the countries that adopted it, Thursday 4 October 1582 was followed directly by Friday 15 October. The pope chose October because it had few religious holidays. Scroll back to October 1582 on a phone calendar and you can still see the gap.

3. October has two birthstones

Most months get one birthstone, but October gets the opal and the tourmaline. The opal is the traditional stone, famous for its play of colour, the shifting rainbow you see when it catches the light. Tourmaline is the modern addition and comes in more colours than any other gemstone, from pink and green to vivid blue.

4. The opal’s name has ancient roots

Opal comes from the Sanskrit “upala”, meaning precious stone, according to the Gemological Institute of America. The ancient Greeks believed opals protected against disease and granted the gift of prophecy, and the Romans considered the opal the most powerful of all gemstones. One old superstition claims opals bring good luck only to people born in October.

5. October’s stones double as anniversary gifts

Jewellery tradition assigns the tourmaline to the eighth wedding anniversary and the opal to the fourteenth. So if you are stuck for an anniversary present, October’s birthstones have you covered twice over.

6. October is National Pizza Month

The United States Congress officially designated October as National Pizza Month in 1987. Pizzerias across America run deals all month long, and every October brings a fresh round of surveys about topping preferences. The great topping debate shows no sign of ending: recent surveys keep finding that toppings, not crust, are what pizza lovers argue about most.

7. The UK celebrates Black History Month in October

While the United States marks Black History Month in February, Britain has celebrated it every October since 1987, when it was first organised in London. The month recognises the achievements and contributions of Black people in the UK and worldwide, with events, exhibitions and talks across the country.

8. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every October, campaigns around the world raise awareness of breast cancer, from screening to support for those living with the disease. The World Health Organization’s theme for 2026 is “Every story is unique, every journey matters”.

9. World Mental Health Day is 10 October

The World Health Organization marks World Mental Health Day every 10 October to raise awareness and drive action on mental health. The 2026 theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, putting the voices of people with lived experience of mental health conditions at the centre.

10. October’s full moon is the Hunter’s Moon

After the Harvest Moon, the next full moon is traditionally called the Hunter’s Moon, named because it once signalled the season to hunt and preserve meat for winter. In 2026 it reaches peak illumination on Monday 26 October, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The bright moon rising soon after sunset once gave hunters extra evening light.

11. Halloween comes from “All Hallows’ Eve”

The name is a contraction of All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day on 1 November. In the Christian calendar, All Hallows is another name for All Saints, so 31 October is literally the eve of the feast of all the saints.

12. Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday

The 31st of October 2026 is a Saturday, which means maximum trick or treating chaos and no school night excuses. If you are planning a costume, you have the whole weekend to recover.

13. Oktoberfest mostly happens in September

Despite the name, Munich’s famous festival takes place mainly in September. The 2026 edition, the 191st, ran from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October. Only the last four days fell in October at all.

14. The festival was moved for better weather

Oktoberfest was held in October until 1871. The following year it moved to September to take advantage of longer days and warmer weather, and it has started in September ever since, traditionally ending on the first Sunday in October.

15. The first Oktoberfest was a royal wedding party

The very first Oktoberfest was held on 12 October 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The party was such a hit that they decided to do it every year, and the festival grounds in Munich are still named Theresienwiese, Therese’s meadow, in her honour.

16. The clocks go back in October

In the UK and across Europe, summer time ends on the last Sunday of October, which in 2026 is 25 October. You gain an hour of sleep and lose an hour of evening light on the same night. The United States follows a week or so later, on the first Sunday of November.

17. The Great Pumpkin is a Peanuts creation

Linus van Pelt’s beloved Great Pumpkin, the sincere alternative to Father Christmas who rises from the pumpkin patch on Halloween night, comes from Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip. The animated special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” first aired in 1966 and has been a Halloween staple ever since.

18. October’s birth flower is the marigold

The bright orange marigold, also known as calendula, is October’s birth flower, symbolising warmth, creativity and the golden colours of autumn. It is also the flower most associated with Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations at the start of November.

19. October is springtime in the Southern Hemisphere

While the northern hemisphere gets falling leaves and pumpkin spice, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America are shaking off winter. October down under means blossom, lambing season and lengthening days, which makes autumn themed content look wonderfully upside down.

20. National Cat Day is 29 October

In the United States, 29 October is National Cat Day, a day to celebrate cats and encourage adoption from shelters. It sits neatly between the spooky black cat imagery of Halloween and the cosy indoor season, which is surely no coincidence.

21. October’s star signs are Libra and Scorpio

If your birthday falls in October, you are a Libra until around 22 or 23 October, when Scorpio takes over. Libras are said to be charming diplomats; Scorpios, intense and mysterious. Take that as you will.

Want More October Fun?

Enjoyed these fun facts about October? Keep the autumn vibes going with our Halloween movie marathon list, this year’s Halloween costume trends, the creepy legend behind why we carve pumpkins, and the weird history of autumn traditions from apple bobbing to corn mazes. For the science behind the season, the Old Farmer’s Almanac has the full story of the Hunter’s Moon.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fun Facts on October

What are the best fun facts about October?

October was originally the eighth month (its name comes from the Latin “octo”, meaning eight), ten days were deleted from October 1582 when the Gregorian calendar was introduced, it has two birthstones (opal and tourmaline), and it is National Pizza Month in the United States. These fun facts about October make excellent quiz answers.

Why is October the tenth month if its name means eight?

The early Roman calendar began in March, which made October the eighth month. When January and February were added to the start of the year, October shifted to tenth place but kept its original name.

What are October’s birthstones and birth flower?

October has two birthstones: the opal (the traditional stone) and the tourmaline (the modern stone). Its birth flower is the marigold, also known as calendula.

When is the Hunter’s Moon in 2026?

The Hunter’s Moon, the full moon that follows the Harvest Moon, reaches peak illumination on Monday 26 October 2026, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Is October really National Pizza Month?

Yes. The United States Congress designated October as National Pizza Month in 1987, and American pizzerias celebrate with deals and events throughout the month.