October
Folk, Fact and Sayings about October

Black History Month
Black History Month (BHM) is an annual awareness campaign to highlight African and Caribbean history and heritage, and to promote a greater understanding of the UK's diverse cultural heritage. Throughout October, communities across the UK celebrate by hosting a wide range of events and activities to entertain, inform and educate.

Read more about Black History Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Through the Month, Breast Cancer Care aims to inform people about breast cancer and teach all women to become breast aware.

International Walk to School month

International School Libraries Month
Highlights the importance of school libraries in the education of our children.

World Blindness Awareness Month

1 - 31 October The Big Draw

The Big Draw, part of the Campaign for Drawing, happens in October in many different places all over the UK. Throughout October there are drawing events and activities in museums and galleries, in libraries and shopping centres, in castles and country houses, on nature reserves and in schools. (Big Draw ideas for schools)

4 October - World Animal Day

UK animal welfare groups, sanctuaries and individuals will hold special events to heighten public awareness of animal issues and to encourage people to think about how we relate to animals.
Same day every year.

4 - 10 October - World Space Week

It is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from 4-10 October.

These dates commemorate two events:

3 October - World Architecture Day

Celebrated each year on the first Monday of October in conjunction with World Habitat Day.

3 October - World Habitat Day

Every year, since 1985, when it was designated by the General Assembly, World Habitat Day has been celebrated on the first Monday in October. This day has been set aside by the United Nations for the world to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

7 October - Jeans for Genes
Everyone across the UK is being urged to 'denimstrate' they care this Jeans for Genes Day and help raise funds for sick children.

7 October - National Poetry Day

7 October 2010 - World Smile Day

Every year, on the first Friday in October we celebrate Smiley, his message of goodwill, and World Smile Day®.

9 October World Post Day

World Post Day is observed on 9 October every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on October 9th, 1874. Postal services in all countries provide the primary means of communication for people, organisations and business. The goal is to ensure a universal postal service that is easily accessible, efficient and affordable.

8 October - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day

9 - 15 October - National Curry Week

10 October World Mental Health Day

The Mental Health Foundation celebrates World Mental Health Day each year on 10 October, using it as an opportunity to communicate with the general public about mental health issues.

9 October - Seed Gathering Sunday

The Tree Council has designated the second Sunday in October as a special Seed Gathering Day to collect seeds for growing into the new trees of the future.

10 – 14 October - Humphrey’s Pyjama Week

The Children's Trust & popular pre-school brand Humphrey’s Corner, are hoping over 40,000 children will join in Humphrey's Pyjama Week and wear their pyjamas to nursery, pre-school or school!

12 October - World Arthritis Day

On World Arthritis Day, people with arthritis from around the world join together to make their voices heard and raise awareness of arthritis.

12 October - International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

Celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of October as vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction, including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

13 October - World Sight Day

Held on the second Thursday of October each year, the event focuses attention on the problem of global blindness.

16 October - World Food Day

World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. The world produces enough food for everyone. Yet every 5 seconds a child dies of hunger or malnutrition and over 800 million people go to bed hungry.

17 October Child Poverty Day

Support ActionAid’s Child Poverty Day and be part of the UK’s biggest celebration of childhood to help end Child poverty.

17 - 23October National Parents' Week

17 - 23 October National Baking Week TBC

17 - 23 October Energy Saving Week

21 October - Apple Day

An annual celebration of the huge variety of apples grown in Britain and the richness and importance of traditional orchards.

21 October - Trafalgar Day

Trafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805.

22 October - International Stammering Awareness Day

International Stammering Awareness Day (ISAD) happens on 22nd October every year to raise awareness of stuttering.

24 October - United Nations Day

Marking the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations on 24 October 1945.

21 October - Everyone Writes Day

Plan to collapse the curriculum for the day to get the whole school excited about writing.

30 October - British Summer Time ends (Clocks go back one hour)

30 October - National Sleep-In Day

The day the clocks go back and we all get to spend an extra hour in bed.

31 October - Halloween