50+ Lifestyles

October – Bizarre and Unique Holidays

By Eloise Graham
Editor-in-Chief

Doing research for this article each month always brings a chuckle or a smile. The list of national days, weeks and month celebrations continues to amaze me. I am not sure who decides or how certain days are chosen, but the combination of some of them is really humorous.

Did you know that October is National Apple Jack Month, National Cookie Month, National Pizza Month and National Popcorn Popping Month? Some of the individual days include: National Frappe Day, National Angel Food Cake Day, National Dessert Day, Brandied Fruit Day, National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, World Pasta Day, Caramel Custard Day and National Candy Corn Day. It is also National Diabetes Month. Could there be a connection?

Week 1 of October is Get Organized Week. Some of the days are: Name Your Car Day, Do Something Nice Day, Come and Take It Day, Mad Hatter Day, It’s My Party Day and Moment of Frustration Day.

October is also known as Sarcastic Month. But the month boasts such days as: World Smile Day, Do Something Nice Day and Make a Difference Day (neighbors helping neighbors).

World Vegetarian Day is the first day of Eat Country Ham Month. October 23rd is TV Talk Show Host Day. Following on the 24th is National Bologna Day – Baloney! The 20th is designated as Brandied Fruit Day, with the 21st being Babbling Day and Count Your Buttons Day. Well, with enough brandy, one probably does babble when they count their buttons.

The second week of October is known as Pet Peeve Week. Here are some days that might be pet peeves; International Frugal Day, Virus Appreciation Day, Bald and Free Day, Moldy Cheese Day, Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day, Wear Something Gaudy Day, National Mole Day, Punk-for-a-Day Day, Plush Animal Lover’s Day and Mischief Night.

Halloween is a holiday we all know, but there is also National Frankenstein Day, Frankenstein Friday, Carve a Pumpkin Day and Increase Your Psychic Powers Day.

On the serious side, there are many observations in the month that deserve to be mentioned. October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, American Pharmacist Month. Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Clergy Appreciation Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Weekly celebrations include Customer Service Week, Pastoral Care Week and Fire Prevention Week. Special recognition days include World Teacher’s Day, Physician Assistant Day. Fire Prevention Day, Columbus Day and Emergency Nurses Day, among many others.