October isn't just about the slow creep of orange leaves or the sudden, aggressive reappearance of pumpkin spice in everything you eat. If you're wondering what holiday in Oct is worth circling on your calendar, you’ll quickly realize the month is a crowded, chaotic mess of federal closures, ancient pagan rituals, and a few quirky observances that honestly feel like they were made up by a marketing department on a Friday afternoon. It's more than just a countdown to Halloween.
Most people look at their phone calendar, see a random Monday off, and realize they have no idea if they should be celebrating a specific person, a culture, or just the fact that they don't have to check their work email for twenty-four hours.
The Big Monday: Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples' Day
The second Monday of October is the heavy hitter. It's a federal holiday. This means the post office is closed, banks are dark, and if you’re a government employee, you’re likely sleeping in. Historically, this was strictly Columbus Day, established as a federal holiday in 1937 to honor the Italian explorer. But things have changed. A lot.
Honestly, the shift toward Indigenous Peoples' Day has been one of the most significant cultural pivots in recent American history. It isn't just a "woke" trend; it’s a formal recognition adopted by dozens of states and hundreds of cities. While the federal government still technically recognizes Columbus Day, President Biden has issued proclamations for Indigenous Peoples' Day every year since 2021. So, depending on where you live—say, South Dakota or New Mexico—the "holiday" on your local calendar might look very different than it does in a traditionalist stronghold like parts of the Northeast.
This duality creates a weird tension. Some Italian-American communities still hold massive parades, particularly in New York City, viewing the day as a celebration of their heritage and the immigrant experience. Meanwhile, others use the day to reflect on the pre-colonial history of the Americas, focusing on the resilience of tribal nations. It’s a complicated day. It's messy.
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Beyond the Federal Calendar: Yom Kippur and Sukkot
If you’re looking at what holiday in Oct falls on a specific date, you have to check the Hebrew calendar. Because it’s lunar-based, Jewish holidays "drift" through the Gregorian months of September and October. In years like 2024 and 2025, significant portions of the High Holy Days land squarely in the middle of autumn.
Yom Kippur is the big one. It’s the Day of Atonement. It is the holiest day in Judaism, centered around fasting and prayer. It’s not a "holiday" in the sense of a party; it’s a day of intense introspection. Then comes Sukkot. This is a week-long harvest festival where people build temporary outdoor dwellings called a sukkah. It’s actually pretty cool to see these structures popping up on balconies in major cities or in suburban backyards. It’s a time of hospitality and remembering the fragility of life. If you have Jewish neighbors, they’re likely deep in these traditions while the rest of the world is just starting to think about costumes.
The Global Heavyweight: Diwali
Depending on the year, Diwali—the Hindu Festival of Lights—often illuminates late October. It’s a massive global event. We’re talking over a billion people celebrating the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
If you’ve never experienced Diwali, you’re missing out. There are diyas (small oil lamps), vibrant rangoli patterns on the floor, and enough sweets to make a dentist cry. It’s a five-day festival, and in many parts of the world, including parts of the U.S. and the UK, it’s become a major public celebration. It's vibrant. It's loud. It's incredibly meaningful to the South Asian diaspora.
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Halloween: The Commercial King
We can't talk about October holidays without the 31st. But here’s the thing: Halloween isn’t a federal holiday. You don't get the day off work. Your mail still comes. Yet, Americans spend billions—literally over $12 billion annually, according to the National Retail Federation—on candy, costumes, and decorations.
The roots are ancient, though. It’s Samhain. This was a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. The "dark half" of the year. People believed the veil between our world and the spirit world was thinnest on this night. Fast forward a few centuries, mix in some Christian influence (All Hallows' Eve), and eventually, you get kids dressed as superheroes demanding Snickers bars.
It's fascinating how a day rooted in the fear of the wandering dead turned into a retail juggernaut. It’s basically the gateway drug to the Christmas shopping season.
The Weird Ones: National Days You Didn't Know Existed
If you're still asking what holiday in Oct might give you an excuse to do something specific, the "National Day" calendar is exhausting. It's almost satirical at this point.
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- October 1st: International Coffee Day. As if we needed an excuse.
- October 10th: World Mental Health Day. This one actually matters. It’s a global initiative supported by the WHO to raise awareness and scale up treatment for mental health issues.
- October 16th: World Food Day. This commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.
- October 24th: United Nations Day. Celebrating the 1945 charter.
There’s also Sweetest Day, which is a thing in the Midwest on the third Saturday of October. It’s sort of a second Valentine’s Day, but with less pressure and more random acts of kindness. Most people outside of Ohio or Michigan think it’s a prank, but people there take it quite seriously.
Canadian Thanksgiving: The "Other" Turkey Day
While Americans are waiting until late November to argue with their relatives over turkey, Canadians get it over with on the second Monday of October. It aligns with the federal holiday in the U.S., but the vibe is totally different.
Canadian Thanksgiving is much more focused on the actual harvest. Since Canada is further north, the harvest happens earlier. It’s less about the specific pilgrim mythology and more about the "phew, we got the crops in before everything froze" sentiment. It’s a statutory holiday in most provinces, meaning a long weekend for most of the country.
Why Does This Month Feel So Busy?
October is a transitional period. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the bridge between the "freedom" of summer and the "grind" of the winter holidays. Because of this, almost every culture has some form of harvest festival or day of remembrance tucked into these 31 days.
Whether it's the solemnity of Yom Kippur, the communal joy of Diwali, or the commercial chaos of Halloween, the month is packed. If you're looking for a day off, focus on that second Monday. If you're looking for a reason to celebrate, just wait a few days; something will come up.
Actionable Steps for Your October Planning
- Check your local government calendar. Because Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day vary by state and city, don't assume your local bank or trash pickup will be on its normal schedule on the second Monday.
- Synchronize with the Lunar Calendar. If you have friends or colleagues who celebrate Diwali or the Jewish High Holy Days, remember that these dates change every year. Check a 2026 or 2027 calendar now to avoid scheduling major meetings on those days.
- Prepare for Samhain/Halloween early. Retailers start clearing out Halloween stock for Christmas decorations as early as October 15th. If you want the "good" candy or a specific costume, buying it on October 30th is a recipe for disappointment.
- Observe World Mental Health Day (Oct 10). Use this as a hard deadline to check in with yourself or your team. It's the most "useful" non-traditional holiday in the month for long-term well-being.
The reality of October is that it’s a patchwork. It’s a bit of history, a bit of religion, and a whole lot of autumn aesthetics. Pick the holiday that resonates with your heritage or your lifestyle, but at the very least, enjoy the cooler weather.