What can we say about October? Several things, in fact, which generally speak to the fact that this is our favorite month. And we’re sure you’ll be grateful, because we’re leaving the stuff about the Romans until the end.
- The leaves turn — OK, so this will probably already have started before October begins, but you never know with global climate change. Anyway, we have something fine to look forward to. And after that, we can look forward to the days when they actually fall, and go crunch under our feet.
- Football — Not all of us are football fans, but most are, so go ahead and enjoy it. But as you do, please do not forget that this month is the very climax of…
- BASEBALL! — Or at least, the climax of Major League Baseball, when the boys of summer have to keep moving around out there in the outfield to stay warm. At least, in the northern venues, such as Fenway Park. As we write, the Yankees, Cleveland and Houston are leading their respective divisions in the American League, and the Phillies, Brewers and Dodgers in the NL. But with the wide-open playoff season ahead, practically anybody still has a shot. Even, conceivably, the Red Sox.
- Sweaters — Again, we don’t know, since weather is so very odd these days. But we can at least celebrate the tradition, and start checking our sweaters for moth holes in preparation for, perhaps, December…
- Oktoberfest — They may not know how to spell it, but the folks of Deutschland certainly know how to get the most out of the month. Especially the ones in the Munich area. And folks in this country have been happy to copy them.
- Rocktober — We were actually confused about this term when we added it to the list. We thought it meant some sort of music festival. And it can mean that. But in Colorado, it’s about a gathering devoted to climbing rocks. So you learn something every day.
- Halloween — But you knew that. Sometimes, if you walk into a retail store and look around you, you might that’s all that happens in October. But it isn’t. Anyway, happy trick-or-treating.
- Alas, pumpkin spice — But don’t blame October for this ubiquitous obsession. Note that this year, Starbucks kicked off that promotion on August 22.
- The name — Here’s where the Romans come in. And it’s where I mention — as I did in September, and will again in November and December — that the name once made sense, because the Latin root of “October” refers to the number eight, and in the ancient and original Roman calendar, this was the eighth month. But then Julius Caesar — no great respecter of tradition — added a couple of months earlier in the year, and didn’t change the later months’ names. That’s not why he was attacked and killed in the Senate in 44 B.C., but you can see how people might have been peeved.
That’s it. Now get ready for November…
(We found the featured image on Wikipedia. They got it from Flickr.)
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