There are lots of neat fun facts about October babies, and you may even be able to learn a little bit about their future personality, based on their birth date. In this post, we take a close look at all the unique and interesting things that make October a special month for childbirth.
October is the first full month of fall and it's a beautiful time to be born. In areas where autumn leaves are changing, the sights are breathtaking. In the United States, for example, peak fall foliage typically occurs in October across a large swath of the country. Even in warmer climates without colorful foliage, the temperatures are just right for enjoying the outdoors‚ no more summer heat and too soon for winter's cold. Historically, October has often been used to determine how harsh the upcoming winter season will be. According to the Farmer's Almanac, you can predict an especially "hard winter" by these signs: a large number of acorns falling to the ground; wooly caterpillars appearing more black than brown; deer displaying a grayer coat. Also, in North America and increasingly all over the world, you can't talk about October without also thinking about Halloween, cozy fall sweaters and pumpkin spiced lattes!
October means eight in Latin, just as octagon stands for eight sides and octopi have eight legs. So, what does October have to do with the number eight? In the orginal Roman calendar (which lasted as late as 153 B.C.), October was the eighth month of the year. Later when January and February were added to the calendar, October's name remained the same, even though it became the tenth month.
Holidays in October
It's always neat when your baby's birth falls on a holiday, or near it. And as they get older, they may begin to associate the two special dates with each other, depending on the holiday. For example, late October-born adults say that Halloween is their favorite holiday. Here are some of the noteworthy holidays you should know if you're having an October baby:- International Coffee Day (Oct. 1):Started in 2015, this "little" holiday celebrating coffee has taken off in recent years, as many major coffee retailers now use the day to offer a free cup of Joe.
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday of October): While Christopher Columbus himself is a controversial figure, Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the United States, and many get the day off from work. Columbus Day celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492.
- Sweetest Day (3rd Saturday in October): This obscure holiday is little known in most parts of the United States, but in select areas of the Midwest it is extremely popular. It's a celebration of love and kindness for giving candy to the people you appreciate in your life.
- Halloween (October 31): Once known as "All Hallows' Eve," Halloween was originally a Christian holiday for remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed. Today, in the United States especially, it is a day for costumes and children going "trick or treating" for candy at neighbors' homes.
Did you know? October is also known as National Cookie Month, Chili Month, Pizza Month, and Dessert Month!
October Zodiac & Astrological Predictions
Babies born in October are either Libras (born between September 24 and October 23) or Scorpios (October 24 to November 22). Here's what the stars say about each of these signs and what it might mean for your October baby's personality:- Libra: Libras are known as peacemakers and have a strong need for justice. Finding harmony is a big part of a Libra's makeup. They put others before themselves and they make excellent diplomats, helping others to find common ground and resolve conflict. Libras also tend to be artistic and often go onto creative careers. While not necessarily social butterflies, they are most content when surrounded by trusted friends and family. As such, your Libra baby may be very attached and clingy throughout childhood, and your unconditional love is what will help their independence blossom in later years.
- Scorpio: Scorpios are known to be calm and cool, as well as a bit mysterious. Part of the mystery comes from the simple fact that Scorpios can be fiercely independent. They don't need social circles to feel content or know which decisions to make: they prefer to go their own way. As such, Scorpios tend to attract more conflict than other zodiac signs. They aren't afraid to voice their opinions and they tend to wear their heart on their sleeves. If you have multiple kids, you'll probably notice that your October-born Scorpio expresses their emotions much differently (and with greater passion) than their siblings.
October Birthstones & Flowers
Those born in October have the choice of two birthstones: the opal and the tourmaline. Rumor has it that it is bad luck to wear an opal if you weren't born in October, and some believe that the opal is bad luck altogether. If you worry about the misfortune associated with the opal, then the beautiful tourmaline is for you. Tourmaline comes in blues, greens, reds, pinks, and even yellow. According to an Egyptian legend, this range of colors is possible because the stone passed over a rainbow on its journey from the center of the earth.
The birth flower is the calendula, commonly known as the marigold. Though common in gardens throughout the U.S., the calendula was used by Romans and Greeks in ritual ceremonies, early Catholic events, and Hindu decorations for deities. In many cultures, it is known for its healing properties
Research-Backed Personality Don't believe in astrology? That's okay not everyone does. But you might be interested to know that your month of birth does partially dictate your personality. Science proves it. It has to do with the seasons. While researchers don't have all the answers yet, they've found significant patterns among people born in the same months and seasons. So, what does October tell us about your baby's future personality? Interestingly, the research backs up what conventional astrology tells us about "well balanced" Libras. Scientists found that a key pattern among October-born men and women was their low likelihood of severe mood swings and bipolar disorder. However, despite their steady emotional state, they tend to be more irritable than those born in other months.
Famous October Babies & Historical Figures
Who else was born in October? Lots of celebrities and notable figures! There are way too many to list here, but here are some of the most recognizable names of famous October-born babies:- October 1, 1924: Jimmy Carter
- October 2, 1869: Mahatma Gandhi
- October 9, 1940: John Lennon
- October 16, 1854: Oscar Wilde
- October 17, 1972: Eminem
- October 21, 1980: Kim Kardashian
- October 22, 1952: Jeff Goldblum
- October 25, 1881: Pablo Picasso
- October 26, 1947: Hillary Clinton
- October 28, 1955: Bill Gates
- October 28, 1967: Julia Roberts
- October 29, 1971: Winona Ryder
If you have hopes that your October baby will someday be president, then you'll like this fun fact‚ more American Presidents have been born in October than any other month. October-born presidents include Adams, Hayes, Arthur, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Carter.
October Milestones: When will my baby?
As an expecting Mom or Dad, you're probably already thinking about your baby's biggest development milestones, like walking and talking. And since you know the due date is in October, you can make some pretty good predictions for when these milestones will happen. Here's approximately when your October-born baby will:- Crawl: 7 to 10 months. Your baby will probably be crawling between May and August of next year (and then you're in trouble!).
- Walk: 9 to 15 months. Babies begin walking at different ages, but chances are good that yours will take his/her first steps between July and the New Year.
- Talk: 6 to 7 months. Sure, you'll hear an occasional "mama" or "dada" as early as two months. But your baby's first real, post-babbling words probably won't come until next spring or so.
- Smile: 6 to 12 weeks. Aside from those little gas smirks, your baby should be smiling for real after the New Year, if not sooner.
- Eat solid food: 4 to 6 months. Solid foods will become much easier for your child to eat between February and April of next year.
- Laugh: 4-ish months. Ready for cuteness overload? Baby's first giggles should come before the end of winter.
- October 1, 1908: Ford's Model T car went on sale for the first time.
- October 3, 1863: Thanksgiving Day was officially designated for the last Thursday in November by President Abraham Lincoln.
- October 13, 1775 - United States Navy was established with the purchase of a fleet of ships by the Second Continental Congress.
- October 29, 1929 -The great stock market crash of 1929, which was followed by the American Great Depression.
Baby’s first gift? A diaper cake, of course!
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Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!