Book Snails Book Group discussion

October like its predecessor and successor, September and November respectively, is named for its position in the old Roman calendar. It was simply the eighth month, but don't let its prosaic name fool you, October is bookended by two riotous revelries and some extremely varied fun in between.
The month kicks off with Oktoberfest. Originally begun in Munich as a celebration of German food, drink and culture, it has been exported to every corner of the globe. Technically, Oktoberfest starts in September (maybe "Septemberfest" didn't sound as snazzy), but it does carry on into the first week of October. It's alleged that it's the Germans immigrants in the various countries that have encouraged Oktoberfestivities, but I'm not so sure. In most cities where it's celebrated it's the drinking that gets the most emphasis. And in many cases it's breweries that have set up the celebrations. No matter who introduced it, it's a brilliant way to kick off the month.

Before we get to the main event of October, there are plenty of exciting national and international days like World Egg day (9th), World Mental Health day (10th), Spirit day (15th), World Statistics day (20th), International Caps Lock day (22nd), and my two personal favourites Black Cat Appreciation day in the UK (27th) and National Cat day in the US (29th). That is only the tip of the iceberg. There is literally something for everyone to celebrate in October. Find a day for you and enjoy.

Of course, at the end of the month we have Halloween. In the West and growing in popularity in the East, it is the day that defines October. It is an amalgamation of the Christian observance of Hallowtide, pagan harvest festivals and Irish and UK traditions, which have been internationally popularised by Americans, both US and Canadian. We can thank the Christians for the name. It comes from All Hallows' Eve. Hallow is another word for saints, so Halloween was the night before the feast of All Saints. The timing we can accredit to the pagans. Samhain is probably the most familiar but there were many harvest festivals throughout Western Europe. In fact, some archaeologists conjecture that there might even have been ceremonies to mark the coming of winter in the Neolithic. Dressing up, bobbing for apples, going door-to-door for trick or treating all seem to have roots in post medieval England, Scotland and Ireland. Though the popularity of these practices waned in their home countries by the middle of the 20th century, the practices were just taking off in the new world. It was from the new world that joys of Halloween have gone worldwide. Happy Halloween.

October Challenges
Read a book with 8 in the page count or that is eighth in the series.
Read a book set in Germany or has all the letters of PROST in the title
Read a book with an MPG of horror

Thanks Keli! I love that there are two days dedicated to cats.😊 I'm currently reading If It Bleeds, so that's perfect timing. I can say I'm reading a book with a cat on the cover in honor of that.😹😉

I love when books and challenges work out like that.

I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 22ND!

Pien wrote: "I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 22ND!"

What a great meme, Vickie.

😂