As the pages of the calendar change, we have landed in the month of October. This month is filled with interesting events.
by Robert Thomas, Jr.
October is a month rich in cultural, religious and seasonal observances around the world. As the Northern Hemisphere shifts toward cooler weather and shorter days, many communities mark the change with festivals that celebrate harvest, memory, community and the supernatural.
After reading a number of my columns, you know I love looking at history.
Looking at Halloween’s, it’s rooted in Celtic harvest and Samhain traditions and was later influenced by Christianity’s All Hallows’ Eve. Halloween is now widely celebrated in the U.S. and many other countries.
Typical customs include costume-wearing, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, haunted attractions and themed parties. Halloween’s blend of playful fright and community rituals make it one of October’s most visible and commercialized celebrations.
Another event that also comes to mind is Oktoberfest. Although its name suggests that it primarily takes place in October, Munich’s historically famous beer festival begins in late September and often stretches into the first weekend
of October.
Oktoberfest celebrates Bavarian culture with traditional music, dance, folk dress, hearty foods and, of course, the most famous part, beer served in communal tents. This festival started in 1810 as a royal wedding and has since morphed into a beer and folk festival. Variations and local Oktoberfest celebrations are now common worldwide.
In October, Columbus Day is observed in the United States to commemorate Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. This federal holiday has become controversial. In many cities and states, it has been replaced or supplemented by Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors Native American resilience, cultures and histories.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Communities and organizations across the globe raise awareness as a campaign to provide health and mental support services. While October is when it’s widely recognized, you shouldn’t wait until this month to get your health checked.
Whether you’re male or female, breast cancer can affect us all, either from personal experience or someone we love and care about. Unfortunately, many of our Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) members have experienced this diagnosis. I encourage you to read Betty’s Story in Just For Women on page 42, which shares one PVA member’s personal breast cancer story.
October helps us to remember the mix of harvest gratitude, communal feasts, solemn rituals, lively festivals and costume-filled fun. This month offers many ways to gather, reflect and celebrate the ever-moving changes of the seasons and give observance to the rampant time change while still holding on tight to yesterday. Â