International Newspaper Carrier Day - Newspaper carriers have a rich and very important history for newspapers. They began by standing on corners in towns and selling papers to those who approached them. They would yell out headlines to entice passersby to be interested in reading the articles. Then they began delivering the papers directly to the doorsteps of people who subscribed to the paper. For a lot of years, this was how people got their news and newspapers were read religiously. Now, it seems, that the newspaper carrier job is gradually going away. More people are getting the news from the internet and not from the newspaper, and many people don’t even buy a newspaper subscription anymore. This day is celebrated on the second Saturday in October.
National Chess Day – Proclaimed by President Gerald Ford in 1976, this is a day to enjoy a good game of chess. If you don't have anyone to play it with you, play against yourself or teach your children how to play. Most places prefer to celebrate this day on a weekend so you will find festivities and chess games on or near the second Saturday in October, although I’m sure many will change that to suit their schedules.
Fall Astronomy Day - This is a day to look at the stars. Check with your local planetarium or Air and Space type of museum to see if they are having any special activities to celebrate today. There will be things happening at all hours of the day and night because not all astronomy is based on the stars. Back in April we had Spring Astronomy Day, this is the fall version of the same thing. It occurs as closely as possible to the first quarter Moon in the Fall and is intended to facilitate interaction and education between astronomy professionals and enthusiasts and the general public.
Cephalopod Awareness Day – Established in 2007 by the Octopus News Magazine Online form. It is a day to appreciate animals with 8 or 10 appendages or arms. This is why the 8th day of the 10th month was selected for the celebration. It is sometimes known as Octopus Day.
American Touch Tag Day - Today is a day to play touch tag, which is a very popular game among children in America. But it is probably pretty well known in many other countries as well. In fact, probably everywhere there are children, you will find children who play tag.
National Pierogi Day - A pierogi is a pastry pocket stuffed with some combination of sauerkraut, cheese, mashed potatoes, cabbage, onion, and meat. They came from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s and have spread to all ethnicities in America.
Alvin C. York Day – On this day in 1918, Sergeant Alvin C. York was separated from his patrol unit in France and single-handedly killed 20 enemy soldiers and captured a hill, 132 enemy soldiers and 35 machine guns. He was awarded the US Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre. Oddly enough, he had attempted to evade the draft by way of being a conscientious objector, but the military didn't allow it.
National Fluffernutter Day – You have not lived until you have had a fluffernutter. Peanut butter and marshmallow fluff together in a sandwich. A little bit of heaven in your hand.
International African Penguin Awareness Day – This day is all about raising awareness around the world about the plight of the African Penguin, an animal which is on the endangered species list. If you happen to be in South Africa today, head to Simon’s Town and enjoy their Penguin Festival. They have all kinds of penguin related events along with other things. This day is apparently celebrated on the second Saturday of October every year. But I have also seen sites that claim it is on the third Saturday in October or the second Monday in October, or every year on the 13th. So I am not really sure which is correct.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day - Celebrated on the second Saturday of October, this is a day to celebrate and give support to hospice and palliative care around the world. It is a fact of life that eventually everyone will die when it is their time. So we need to be able to help them when the end is near and they need the most care. Sometimes more care than the family members can provide. Hospice and Palliative Care organizations help so that we don’t suffer any more than necessary. They help when we don’t know what to do.
National Family Bowling Day (or Kids Bowl Free Day) – This is is a fun day that you can spend bowling with your family. Some bowling alleys may even have free bowling for kids today as an extra incentive. It's an affordable activity that you can do as a family and most kids really enjoy it. This is a second Saturday in October day.
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