October is here! Doesn’t that sound crazy? That fall is already here in all of its glory? Even though it’s a bit warmer than autumb fans might want, there are still so many fun activities we think of when it comes to October: pumpkin picking, tailgating at football games and sweater weather (fingers crossed)!
The month of October is synonymous with all things Halloween, of course. Black cats, witches and ghosts, planning the perfect Halloween costume and adorning your home and yard with spooktacular decorations fitting for this time of year.
There are also some major religious holidays observed during October 2025, including Rosh Hashanah and the federal holiday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day (otherwise known as Columbus Day). But the month of October is also chock full of fun and silly observances, like National Coffee Day, a day dedicated to the movie Mean Girls, Wear Something Gaudy Day, National Greasy Foods Day and Face Your Fears Day.
Other days on the October calendar bring attention to more serious matters, like pregnancy and infant loss, anti-bullying and the trauma associated with abuse. And certain weeks in October are dedicated to recognizing causes like mental illness (October 6-12), fire prevention (October 6-12) and food banks (the week of October 16). And the entire month of October is a time to bring awareness to important causes like breast cancer, dyslexia, Down Syndrome and depression education.
Want to know more about October 2025’s holidays and observances? We’ve put together a list of all the special-interest days throughout this month, so keep on reading to see which ones you might want to celebrate!
Related: 100 Funny Halloween Jokes for Kids
What Major Holidays Are in October?
There are several major holidays in October. If you ask any child you know, they will likely tell you that October 31—AKA Halloween—is the most important date of the month because it is the night that they get to dress up and go door to door begging for candy and other treats! But there is another major holiday that is celebrated during October as well.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, otherwise known as Columbus Day, is a federal holiday in the United States, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day falls on Monday, October 13, 2025. While Columbus Day commemorates the discovery of the Americas by explorer Christopher Columbus, Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Native American Day highlights the indigenous people who faced mistreatment the moment Columbus “discovered” them. Whatever you want to call it, this holiday is observed each year on the second Monday of the month.
Because it is a federal holiday, United States banks are closed, there is no delivery of mail by the United States Postal Service and schools and most businesses across the country are closed for the day.
Are There Religious Holidays in October?
One major Jewish holiday that occurs this month is Yom Kippur. The highest of Judaism’s holy days, Yom Kippur, is a day of atonement, as Jews believe it is on this day that God decides each person’s fate. Jewish people observe Yom Kippur with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer at a special synagogue service as they ask God for the forgiveness of their sins committed over the past year.
In 2025, Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 1, and ends at nightfall the following evening, October 2. Since Yom Kippur is the most solemn day, Jewish people also do not go to work or school, using anything electronic is prohibited and they don’t even use water to bathe, drink or brush their teeth. At the end of Yom Kippur, Jewish families gather for a celebratory meal to break their fast.
Sukkot is yet another Jewish holiday that takes place this October. In 2025, Sukkot will begin at sundown on Monday, October 6, and end on Monday, October 13. In Jewish tradition, the week-long holiday was to celebrate the yearly harvest of farmers, while also commemorating the Bible’s story of how the Jews escaped from Egypt and lived in temporary shelters as they wandered through the desert for 40 years.
Then there’s the religious Hindu holiday called Diwali. Since the dates of Diwali—known as the Festival of Lights—are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, they change from year to year. But in 2025, Diwali falls on October 20, with five days of festivals and celebrations starting October 18, 2025, until October 22, 2025. India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of the victory of good over evil and light over darkness and marks the beginning of the new year for some Hindu groups.
During Diwali, Indians light clay lamps outside of their homes, symbolizing the inner light that protects their dwellings from the darkness. The five-day holiday is as important in the Hindu religion as Christmas is in Christianity. And much like Christmas, Indians celebrate with prayer, feasts, and family gatherings.
Outside of Judaism and Hinduism, another religious holiday in October is All Hallows’ Eve, observed on October 31. Yes, that date is indeed Halloween—and that’s because the secular holiday has roots in the historic beliefs and practices of Christian religions. All Hallows’ Eve falls the night before the Christian holy day All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day, on November 1. Hallowed means “made holy,” and over the years, All Hallows’ Eve eventually became known as Halloween.
Does October 2025 Have a Full Moon?
The full moon during the month of October is traditionally called the Harvest Moon. According to TimeandDate.com, it will reach its peak on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 11:48 p.m. EST. Even though September had the Harvest Moon last year, in 2025, October’s is called the Harvest Moon because it’s closer to the Fall Equinox.
Related: 20 Full Moon Rituals To Manifest Your Best Life
October Daily Holidays and Observances 2025
October 1
- Balloons Around the World Day
- CD Player Day
- International Coffee Day
- International Day of Older Persons
- International Music Day
- International Walk to School Day
- Model T Day
- National Black Dog Day
- National Fire Pup Day
- National Fruit at Work Day
- National Hair Day
- National Homemade Cookie Day
- National Lace Day
- National Pumpkin Seed Day
- National Pumpkin Spice Day
- National Raccoon Day
- National Walk and Bike to School Day
- World Sake Day
- World Vegetarian Day
October 2
- Guardian Angel Day
- International Day of Non-Violence
- National Custodian Day
- National Name Your Car Day
- National Produce Misting Day
- World Farm Animals Day
- Yom Kippur (starts in the evening)
October 3
- Kids Music Day
- Mean Girls Day
- National Body Language Day
- National Boyfriend Day
- National Techies Day
- National Wide Awakes Day
- World Smile Day
October 4
- Bookshop Day
- Frugal Fun Day
- Improve Your Office Day
- Kindness to Animals Day
- National Cinnamon Bun Day
- National Golf Lover’s Day
- National Taco Day
- National Truckers Day
- National Vodka Day
- St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day
- Ten-Four Day (recognizing radio operators who use the call sign 10-4)
- World Animal Day
- World Card-Making Day
- World Habitat Day
October 5
- Change A Light Day
- International Blessings of The Fishing Fleet Day
- National Be Nice Day
- National Do Something Nice Day
- National Get Funky Day
- National GOE Day (Growth. Overcome. Empower Day) (in support of those healing from abuse trauma)
- National Kiss a Wrestler Day
- World Meningitis Day
- World Teacher’s Day
October 6
- Chuseok
- Mad Hatter Day
- National Badger Day
- National Child Health Day
- National Coaches Day
- National Consignment Day
- National Energy Geek Day
- National Noodle Day
- National Orange Wine Day
- National Plus Size Appreciation Day
- National Transfer Money to Your Daughter Day
- Sukkot
- World Architecture Day
- World Cerebral Palsy Day
- Zero Inbox Day
Related: Orange Wine Might Be Trendy, but It’s Definitely Not New—Here’s What You Need to Know
October 7
- International Day of Peaceful Communication
- National Forgiveness & Happiness Day
- National Frappe Day
- National Fruit at Work Day
- National Inner Beauty Day
- National LED Light Day
- World Cotton Day
- You Matter to Me Day
October 8
- American Touch Tag Day
- Dyslexia Day
- Emergency Nurses Day
- International Newspaper Carrier Day
- International Top Spinning Day
- National Bring Your Teddy Bear to School Day
- National Curves Day
- National Fluffernutter Day
- National Heroes’ Day
- National Pierogi Day
- National Salmon Day
- National Stop Bullying Day
- World Octopus Day
October 9
- Curious Events Day
- International Beer and Pizza Day
- National Depression Screening Day
- National Moldy Cheese Day
- World Post Day
- World Sight Day
Related: Healthy Halloween-Themed Snack Ideas
October 10
- Inclusion Day
- International Stage Management Day
- National Angel Food Cake Day
- National Cake Decorating Day
- National Handbag Day
- Vet Nurse Day
- World Animal Road Accident Awareness Day
- World Day Against the Death Penalty
- World Egg Day
- World Homeless Day
- World Mental Health Day
October 11
- Black Girl Day Off
- General Pulaski Memorial Day
- I Love Yarn Day
- International African Penguin Awareness Day
- International Girl Child Day
- It’s My Party Day
- National Chess Day
- National Coming Out Day
- National Motorcycle Ride Day
- National Sausage Pizza Day
- Southern Food Heritage Day
- Universal Music Day
- World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
October 12
- Day of Respect For Cultural Diversity
- Farmers Day
- Freethought Day
- National Gumbo Day
- National Pulled Pork Day
- National Savings Day
- World Arthritis Day
October 13
- Breast Cancer Awareness Day
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Columbus Day)
- Disaster Day
- English Language Day
- Herpes Awareness Day
- International Civility For the Girl Child Day
- International Day for Failure
- International Day for Disaster Reduction
- International Skeptics Day
- International Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity
- National Kick Butt Day
- National M&M Day
- National Native American Day
- National No Bra Day
- National Online Bank Day
- National Train Your Brain Day
- National Transfer Money to Your Son Day
- Yorkshire Pudding Day
October 14
- Ada Lovelace Day (honoring the achievements of women in STEM fields)
- Be Bald and Be Free Day
- National Dessert Day
- National Face Your Fears Day
- National I Love You Day
October 15
- Global Handwashing Day
- HSA Day
- I Love Lucy Day
- International Day of Rural Women
- National Cheese Curd Day
- National Esthetician Day
- National Fossil Day
- National Grouch Day
- National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day
- National Lemon Bar Day
- National Mushroom Day
- National Take Your Parents To Lunch Day
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
- Unity Day
- White Cane Safety Day
- World Students’ Day
Related: 150 Romantic Love Messages for Him or Her
October 16
- Conflict Resolution Day
- Dictionary Day
- Get Smart About Credit Day
- Global Cat Day
- International Credit Union Day
- National Boss’s Day
- National Department Store Day
- National Feral Cat Day
- National Liqueur Day
- National Veterans BBQ Day
- Spirit Day
- World Allergy Awareness Day
- World Food Day
- World Spine Day
October 17
- Black Poetry Day
- Child Poverty Day
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Loud Shirt Day
- National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day
- National Mammography Day
- National Mulligan Day (promoting do-overs, after the golf term for a second chance)
- National Pasta Day
- National Pay Back a Friend Day
- Wear Something Gaudy Day
- Women in Military Service for America Memorial Anniversary
- World Trauma Day
October 18
- Bridge Day
- International Sloth Day
- National Chocolate Cupcake Day
- National Fetch Day
- National Mashed Potato Day
- National Necktie Day
- National No Beard Day
- National Speak Up for Victims of Sexual Abuse Day
- Ride To Work Day
- Sweetest Day (A Midwestern tradition in which women give gifts and candy to the men)
- World Menopause Day
October 19
- Evaluate Your Life Day
- LGBT Center Awareness Day
- National New Friends Day
- National Seafood Bisque Day
- World Humanitarian Action Day
- World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day
- World Toy Camera Day
October 20
- Diwali
- Information Overload Day
- International Chef Day
- National Brandied Fruit Day
- National Day on Writing
- National Youth Confidence Day
- Talent Transformation Day
- World Osteoporosis Day
- World Statistics Day
October 21
- American Frog Day
- Back to the Future Day
- Celebration of the Mind Day
- Count Your Buttons Day
- Everyone Writes Day
- National Apple Day
- National Archives Day
- National Check Your Meds Day
- National Pets for Veterans Day
- National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
- National Reptile Day
- Pharmacy Technician Day
October 22
- International Caps Lock Day
- International Stuttering Awareness Day
- Lung Health Day
- Medical Assistant Day
- National Color Day
- National Make a Dog’s Day
- National Nut Day
- Scar Appreciation Day
- Smart Is Cool Day
Related: 50 Pumpkin Patch Instagram Captions To Spice Up Your Feed
October 23
- Mole Day (celebrated by chemists and mathematicians in honor of the specialized counting of Avogadro’s Number)
- National Boston Cream Pie Day
- National Croc Day
- National iPod Day
- National Paralegal Day
- National Slap Your Coworker Day
- T.V. Talk Show Host Day
October 24
- Global Champagne Day
- National Bologna Day
- National Food Day
- National Jamaican Jerk Day
- National Kangaroo Awareness Day
- National Senior UTI Awareness Day
- United Nations Day
- World Development Information Day
- World Polio Day
October 25
- Hug a Sheep Day
- International Artist Day
- Make a Difference Day
- Muddy Dog Day
- National Chucky Day
- National Fine Art Appreciation Day
- National Greasy Foods Day
- National I Care About You Day
- National Pitbull Awareness Day
- Punk for a Day Day
- Sourest Day
- World Pasta Day
October 26
- National Chicken Fried Steak Day
- National Mincemeat Pie Day
- National Mother-in-Law Day
- National Mule Day
- National Pumpkin Day
- National Transgender Children’s Day
- Visit A Cemetery Day
- Worldwide Howl at the Moon Night
October 27
- Cranky Coworkers Day
- National American Beer Day
- National Black Cat Day
- National Mentoring Day
- Navy Day
- World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
October 28
- International Animation Day
- National Chocolate Day
- National First Responders Day
- National Immigrants Day
- Plush Animal Lover’s Day
- Wild Foods Day
October 29
- National Cat Day
- National Hermit Day
- National Internet Day
- National Oatmeal Day
- World Psoriasis Day
- World Stroke Day
October 30
- Create a Great Funeral Day
- Devil’s Night, or Mischief Night
- Haunted Refrigerator Night
- National Candy Corn Day
- National Checklist Day
- National Publicist Day
- National Speak Up For Service Day
- National Text Your Ex Day
- National Treat Your Pet Day
- World Audio Drama Day (commemorating Orson Welles’ “War of the Worlds” broadcast in 1938)
October 31
- All Hallows’ Eve
- Bandana Day
- Books for Treats Day
- Frankenstein Friday
- Girl Scout Founder’s Day
- Halloween
- National Breadstick Day
- National Caramel Apple Day
- National Doorbell Day
- National Knock-Knock Joke Day
- National Magic Day
- National UNICEF Day
- Samhain
- World Cities Day
- World Lemur Day
- World Savings Day
Related: 50 Apple Orchard Instagram Captions for Your Next Family Trip
October Weekly Observances
- Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5-11)
- National Carry a Tune Week (October 6-12)
- Customer Service Week (October 6-10)
- World Space Week (October 4-10)
- Earth Science Week (October 12-18)
- Emergency Nurses Week (October 5-11)
- Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11)
- OCD Awareness Week (October 12-18)
- National School Lunch Week (October 13-17)
- National Chemistry Week (October 19-25)
- National Friends of Libraries Week (October 19-25)
- National Character Counts Week (October 19-25)
- National Food Bank Week (October 12-18)
- National Health Education Week (October 20-24)
- Nuclear Science Week (October 20-24)
- National School Bus Safety Week (October 21-25)
- Free Speech Week (October 20-26)
- Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31)
- National Magic Week (October 25-31)
Related: The Early Ovarian Cancer Sign Most People Miss, According to OB/GYNs
October Monthly Observances
- ADHD Awareness Month
- Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
- American Cheese Month
- American Pharmacist Month
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
- Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month
- Clergy Appreciation Month
- Computer Learning Month
- Contact Lens Safety Month
- Cookie Month
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- Dyslexia Awareness Month
- Eat Country Ham Month
- Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
- German-American Heritage Month
- Global Diversity Awareness Month
- Health Literacy Month
- Healthy Lung Month
- LGBT History Month
- Liver Cancer Awareness Month
- International Drum Month
- National Apple Month
- National Applejack (Hard Cider) Month
- National Arts and Humanities Month
- National Audiology Awareness Month
- National Bake and Decorate Month
- National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
- National Chili Month
- National Chiropractic Health Month
- National Crime Prevention Month
- National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
- National Dental Hygiene Month
- National Depression Education and Awareness Month
- National Dessert Month
- National Diabetes Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- National Pizza Month
- National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
- National Vegetarian Month
- National Popcorn Popping Month
- National Reading Group Month
- National Roller Skating Month
- National Seafood Month
- National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
- Polish-American Heritage Month
- Positive Attitude Month
- Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month
- Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
- Sarcastic Month
- Spinach Month
- Talk About Your Medicines Month
- Vegetarian Month
- World Menopause Month
Up Next:
Related: 36 Spooky Halloween Food and Drink Recipes for the Ultimate Halloween Party
