This Is October - Some Facts You Did Not Know

October comes from the Latin word octo which means eight. In ancient Rome, October was the eighth month of the year. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted, it became the tenth month of the year but it has retained it's original name.

The birthstones for October are opal and tourmaline. Opals are considered to be the traditional birthstone and they symbolize hope. Tourmaline is the modern birthstone for October.

Both gemstones come in a wide variety of colors and are known for displaying multiple colors within the same stone.

The flower for the month of October is the calendula. Another name for calendula is the pot marigold. They are easy to grow and popular in gardens. Colors range from pale yellow to deep orange. The calendula symbolizes sorrow or sympathy.

Libra and Scorpio are the astrological signs for October. Birthdays from October 1st through the 22nd fall under the sign of Libra while birthdays that fall on the 23rd through the 31st are under the sign of Scorpio.

October folklore tell us that when deer are in a gray coat in the month of October, expect a hard winter. It also says that if we have much rain in October, we will have much wind in December and if we have a warn October, we can expect a cold February.

More American Presidents were born in the month of October than any other month. They were John Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter.

Here are a few interesting things that happened during the month of October:

• Free rural delivery of mail began in the United States, October 1, 1896.
• The first "Model T" Ford was put on the market, October 1, 1908.
• The Soviet Union launched it's first artificial satellite, Sputnik, October 4, 1957.
• The first double-decked steamboat, the Washington, arrived at New Orleans, October 7, 1816.
• The great fire of Chicago began, and burned for about 30 hours, October 8, 1871.
• The U.S. Naval Academy opened at Annapolis, Md., October 10, 1845.
• Columbus landed in America, October 12, 1492.
• The United States flag was formally raised over Alaska, October 18, 1867.
• The U.S.S. Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides, launched, October 21, 1797.
• The first transcontinental telegram was sent, October 24, 1861

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