October dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
4th Blessing of the Animals – Christian
On the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, the saint known for his love of animals, many Christians mark the day by saying prayers over animals. These could be pets, working animals or animals going to slaughter. Often, animals are brought to a place of worship to be directly blessed on this day.
5th Dusshera – Hindu
On this day, Hindus celebrate Lord Rama’s defeat of Ravana, the ten-headed king of the demons who abducted Rama’s wife Sita. It is also said that Goddess Durga defeated the buffalo demon Mahishasura on this day. Celebrations involve effigies of the defeated, which are burned in the streets with fireworks, the fire representing the triumph of light over darkness.
10th World Mental Health Day
The World Federation for Mental Health sets the theme for this annual awareness-raising day. The theme for 2022 is ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’ and calls on those in charge to prioritise mental health care. It also provides an opportunity for everyone to talk about mental health with friends, colleagues and loved ones.
This month’s dates at a glance
1st International Day of Older Persons
2nd Feast of the Guardian Angels – Christian
International Day of Non-Violence
4th Blessing of the Animals – Christian
Saint Francis’ Day – Christian
5th Yom Kippur – Judaism
Dussehra – Dasara – Hindu
6th World Cerebral Palsy Day
8th Mawlid al-Nabi – Islam
9th Birthday of Guru Ram Das – Sikh
Sukkot begins – Judaism
10th World Homeless Day
World Mental Health Day
11th International Day of the Girl Child
13th World Sight Day
15th International Day of Rural Women
16th World Food Day
17th Shemini Atzeret – Judaism
International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty
18th Feast of Saint Luke – Christian
Simchat Torah – Judaism
World Menopause Day
19th International Pronouns Day
24th Diwali – Deepavali – Hindu, Sikh, Jain,
Bandi Chhor Divas – Sikh
United Nations Day
26th Birth of the Báb – Baha’i
Intersex Awareness Day
27th Birth of Baha’u’llah – Baha’i
28th Feast of Saints Simon and Jude – Christian
29th World Stroke Day
30th British Summer Time ends
31st All Hallows’ Eve – Christian
Reformation Day – Protestant Christian
Samhain (Halloween) – Beltane – Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres
