WOW: What’s On Where In October
Octoberfest, Germany
Munich’s Oktoberfest is twelve days of craziness in which Germans throw off the shackles of their uptight stereotype with the help of millions of litres of beer.
Read: Oom-pah and Ale: The Oktoberfest Beer Festival
Battle of Hastings, England
English history was irrevocably changed by the Norman (French) conquest and the country remains obsessed with the year 1066. Visit Hastings for an authentic re-enactment of the Battle replete with Norman and Saxon (English) encampments.
Read: Visiting 1066 country – the Battle of Hastings
Day of the Dead, Mexico
Join the living and dead at this ancient pagan Festival. Stock up on sweet edible skulls and join Mexican families at graveyards where they stage a touching all night vigils with the spirits of their ancestors.
Read: Day of the Dead
Halloween, United States, October 31
Halloween falls on the eve of the Christian festival of All hallows day, otherwise known as All Saints Day. It’s roots are believed to be in Ancient harvest festivals, particularly the ancient Celtic festival of Sahmain. Ancient customs include the custom of ‘souling’ (dressing as a soul and asking rich people for soul-cakes) and ‘guising’ (being disguised and going from door to door for food and coins). Today, Halloween is widely celebrated in a similar manner by children across the western world, and has become a huge commercial opportunity for business selling sweet treats, costumes and decorations.
Watch: Global LA – Haunted
Read: Prince of Darkness: The Real Count Dracula
Yom Kippur, Israel
The Day of Atonement is one if Judaism’s most reflective commemorations coming a week after the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah.
Link: Yom Kippur
National Day of the People’s Republic of China, 1 October
The PRC turns 70 on the 1st of October, with big celebrations expected in Beijing
Each year a military parade and mass pageantry will be held following the gathering, followed by a grand evening gala in Tian’anmen Square with performances and a fireworks show.The event is attended by the Chinese President.
Watch: Empire Builders – China
International Coffee Day, 1 October
International Coffee Day brings together coffee lovers in a global celebration to share their love of coffee and support the millions of farmers whose livelihoods depend on it. This year, the International Coffee Organization is working to highlight the plight of coffee farmers, the threat they are facing to their livelihoods and the need to take collective action. While the price of a cup of coffee in your local café has never been higher, the amount that coffee farmers are paid for the beans they produce is at an all time low.
Watch: The story of Coffee
World Habitat Day, 7 October
United Nations World Habitat Day is coming up on the 7th October. The day, which has been celebrated globally since 1986, aims to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations.
Canadian Thanksgiving, 14 October
October 14th is Canadian Thanksgiving day, where Canadians celebrate and give thanks to the bountiful harvest of the year passed. Thanksgiving in Canada is always on the second Monday of October,
Columbus Day, 14 October
Columbus Day is a celebration of Columbus’ arrival to the Americas in October 1492. Though controversial today due to questions of territory and belonging, the Age of Exploration is still considered a pivotal moment in the history of human-kind and is widely considered to be the first era of globalisation, a phenomenon which we are all familiar with today.
Read: Great Explorers: The Americas
Watch: Empire Builders – Spanish Empire
Major US League Baseball Series,
The champion team from both the American League and the National League go head to head in a 7-part best-of game of baseball for the title of Major League Baseball champions. Keep an eye on the MLB website for regular updates
World Pasta Day, 25 October
World Pasta Day has been celebrated on 25 October every year since 1998. Pasta and the Mediterranean Diet was awarded the title of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015. Pasta is nutritious, sustainable, affordable, versatile and delicious. We love it, and will definitely be making the most of the event this month!
Read: Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia: Speciality Foods
Watch: Bazaar – Sicily
