Unveiling the hidden holidays in October

October is usually not directly associated with holidays. When you think of October, you probably think of the first whole month of autumn or mid-autumn break. Maybe you are eagerly anticipating the Christmas season, Christmas vacation, or the start of a new year. It is interesting to see how, at a second glance, across the world, many things are celebrated in October. Aside from global holidays, each country has its own celebrations to brighten up the month.

Here in Japan, Sports Day is the only public holiday. The second Monday of the month commemorates the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and promotes sports as well as physical and mental health. Many Japanese schools celebrate this day with sports festivals, like the one we will be having in November.

as many harvest festivals take place within the 31 days of this month. The official day of the harvest festival is the first of October. In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, is a harvest festival that celebrates the moon in its brightest and fullest size. As its date on the lunar calendar corresponds to mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar, officially, the Mid-Autumn festival took place at the end of September this year.

The Chinese National Day, however, is always celebrated on the first of October. The day is also called China’s Birthday, as it celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Following this day, six days of holiday are added to make the Golden Week holiday. Here in Yokohama, on October 1, the Chinese National Day was celebrated in Chinatown with parades and performances.

Photo of China National Day celebration in China Town Yokohama on October 1

On the topic of national days, October is also the month when South Korea celebrates Gaecheonjeol, or National Foundation Day, and Germany celebrates its Unity Day. Both celebrations take place on the same day, October 3. In South Korea, the formation of Gojoseon, the first Korean state in 2333 BC, which has traditionally been seen as the date for the founding of the Korean people, is celebrated with fireworks and a ceremony to honor Tangun at the summit of Mt. Manisan at the Chamseongdan altar.

German Unity Day commemorates the more recent event of the reunification of Germany in 1990 when the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany. It is also called German National Day and is celebrated annually with a ceremonial act and a citizen’s festival.

October is also when Durga Puja, a very important Hindu festival in India, especially in Bengal, Assam, and other eastern Indian states, is celebrated. It celebrates the defeat of the demon king Mahishasura by the goddess Durga and pays homage to the goddess. This festival started with Mahalaya on October 14 this year and lasted until Vijaya Dashami on October 24, the last five days being the most important. Synonymous with this is the festival Navaratri, which also honors the goddess Durga.

Similar to all other months, there are also various global holidays in October. These range from the lesser-known International Coffee Day, World Animal Day, World Mental Health Day, and United Nations Day to well-known holidays, such as World Teachers Day on October 5 and of course, Halloween on the last day of the month.

As we explored the globe throughout this article, it is evident that October is so much more than the anticipation of Halloween. Whether it be celebrating autumn and harvest or commemorating important historical events all around the world, October reminds us that every day can be a reason to celebrate. So, while we eagerly await the costumes and candy of Halloween, let’s also savor the wealth of traditions that this month brings to our lives.

Emily Beyer