“Then came October, full of
merry glee,
For yet his noule was totty
of the must,
Which he was treading, in
the wine-fat’s see,
And of the joyous oil, whose
gentle gust
Made him so frolic, and so
full of lust:
Upon a dreadful scorpion he
did ride,
The same which by Diana’s
doom unjust
Slew great Orion; and eke by
his side
He had his ploughing-share,
and coulter ready tide.”
Spencer
"This month was so
named because it was the eighth month in the primitive Roman calendar ascribed
to Romulus. It became the tenth month in the calendar as revised by Numa,
who added January and February, but it retained its original name, the more
readily, perhaps, because it once more became the tenth month when the year
commenced, as it did in early Christendom, with March. Julius Caesar in
his revision of the calendar gave it thirty days, which number was changed to
thirty-one by Augustus. As was the ease with September, many Roman
Emperors sought to change its name in their own honor. It was successively
Germanicus, Antoninus, Tacitus, and Herculeus, the latter a surname of the
Emperor Commodus. But none of these names clung. The Roman Senate
had no better luck when they renamed it Faustinus, in honor of Faustina, wife
of Antoninus.
The Anglo-Saxons called
October Winterfylleth, a name which
indicated that winter approached with the full moon of the month. In old
almanacs the sport of hawking is adopted as emblematical of this which was
accounted the last month of autumn." William Shepard Walsh, Curiosities of Popular Customs, p. 762 (1898).
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Astronomy for October:
Two meteor showers this month:
The Draconids, which peak this year on the 7th and 8th. The moon will be in its last quarter (a half moon) and won’t
rise until after midnight, so viewing these falling stars around nightfall
should be easy. If it isn’t too cold, I like to fire up the grill for a last
barbecue and enjoy the show (well bundled-up, of course), even if there isn’t
much of a show.
The Orionids return around the 21st . The first quarter moon sets before midnight, so if
you can get out of your warm bed in the wee (and very chilly) hours before dawn, you’ll be able to view this
shower with no problem.
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Novenas for October
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A good October and a good
blast,
To blow the hog acorn and
mast.
Weather for October
Based on the 12 Days of
Christmas: Mostly cloudy and very, very
cold.
Based on the first 12 days
of January: Sunny with a slight chill in
the air.
Based on the Ember Days: A gloriously beautiful day! Bright
sun, cool temperatures, invigorating!
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Weather Lore for October
There are always nineteen
fine days in October [Optimists and those
who stretch the definition of 'fine' say twenty-one days].
If October is warm and fine,
a sharp winter can be expected.
If the latter end of October
and the beginning of November be for the most part warm and rainy, then January
and February are likely to be frosty and cold. [Likely? LIKELY? Trust me, January and February will be frosty
and cold, no matter what.]
on the other hand
If October and November are
cold, then the following January and February will be mild and dry.
A warm October, a cold
February (and vice versa).
As the weather in October,
so will it be the next March.
Much rain in October, much
wind in December.
Thunder in October signifies
great winds and a dearth of corn.
If there is thunder in
October expect uncertain and changeable weather during the winter.
For every fog in October,
there will be a snow in winter; heavy or light accordingly, as the fog is heavy
or light.
Full moon in October without
frost, no frost until the full moon in November.
If October brings heavy
frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.
Much frost and snow in
October betokens mild weather in winter.
If it freezes and snows in
October, January will bring mild weather, but if instead there is thunder and
lightning, the weather of January will be as changeable as April.
If the first snow falls on
moist, soft earth, it indicates a small harvest in the following year, but if
it falls on hard, frozen ground, there will be a plentiful harvest.
If, during the fall of
leaves in October, many of them wither on the boughs and hang there, it
betokens a frosty winter and much snow.
Ice in October that will
bear up a duck, foretells a winter as wet as muck.
When birds and badgers are
fat in October, expect a cold winter.
If the deer’s coat is gray
in October, there will be a severe winter.
10/1 – On the feast of Saint
Mary, expect the first frosts (this is from Russia, but some of us in the
western hemisphere can expect the first frosts about now as well)
10/2 – If the leaves fall
upon Saint Leodegarius Day, then will the next year be productive.
10/9 - A hard winter follows
a fine St. Denis.
Where the wind lies on St.
Denis, there it will rest for three quarters of the year.
10/14 - If St. Calixtus' day
be dry and windy, the winter will be wet, but if it be rainy and still, the
harvest will be good.
10/16 - If it is fine on St.
Gall's day, it will be fine up to Christmas.
On St. Gall’s day, expect a
late summer (Indian summer)
A dry St. Gall’s day
betokens a dry summer.
10/18 - St. Luke's Little
Summer. In northern Italy, it is
called Saint Teresa’s summer, as it falls near the feast of Saint Teresa of
Avila (October 15). In Germany,
for the same reason, it is called the summer of Saint Gall (October 16); in
Sweden, Saint Bridget’s summer (October 8), and in France, the summer of Saint
Denis (October 9).
On St. Luke’s day, the
thunder goes away.
10/21 – St. Ursula brings in
winter (or at least the preliminary chills)
10/28 - St. Simon and St.
Jude, almost certain to be rainy.
There is oft times a tempest
on St. Jude.
Winter comes on the day of
St. Simon and St. Jude.
If it doesn’t rain on SS.
Simon and Jude, it won’t rain until Saint Cecilia’s day (Nov 22)
10/31 – Where the wind rises on the eve of All Saints, there
it will rise for three quarters of the year following.
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 |
| October - Hawking |
Farming and Gardening for October:
Dry your barley in October,
Or you'll always be
sober. [Barley being necessary for malt,
and malt being necessary for beer
and whiskey, not paying attention to this admonition could mean a year spent
drinking water]
In October, dung your field,
And your land its wealth
shall yield.
If the first snow falls on
moist, soft earth, it indicates a small harvest next year; but if upon hard,
frozen soil, expect a good harvest.
10/16 – After St. Gall, keep
your cow in the stall.
The 1817 Almanac advises the
farmer to "Transplant your brown Dutch and common Lettuces upon warm
Borders, to abide the Winter; sow all Sort of Sallad Herbs upon decayed Hot
Beds, such as Lettuce, Cresses, Radish, Mustard, and Spinach. Earth up
Celery, Chardoons, and the Stems of Broccoli Plants to protect them from the
Frost."
"Make Plantations of
the Suckers of Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries. Cut Artichokes
with long Stalks, which you may preserve in the House, by setting them in
Sand."
"Continue to sow Wheat,
set up your Barley Land, sow Masts for Coppices or Hedge-Rows; plant Quicksets
and plash Hedges; and plant all Sorts of Forest-Trees that shed their
Leaves."
Cassell’s Illustrated
Almanac 1871 for October
Flowers — Clear away all unnecessary growth from the garden, potting all plants
requiring protection, and getting the ground generally clear, that it may be
turned well over before the winter sets in. The exposure of the soil to the
depth of a spade or more, in the frost or snow of winter, will purify the
ground and make it productive.
Vegetables — Autumn-sown lettuce and cabbage will now require transplanting. Take
up carrots and parsnips when the tops have turned yellow; and continue to earth
up celery and to dig potatoes. Turn over all vacant spaces, and prepare for the
next crops.
Fruit
— Currant and gooseberry bushes may now be transplanted, and they should be
carefully pruned, all cross branches being cut away. If propagation is desired,
lay some of the strongest shoots. Put a coating of lime round about the stems,
to protect the bushes from caterpillars.
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Health Advice for October:
"Avoid being out late
at Nights, or in foggy Weather; for a Cold now got may continue the whole
Winter."
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Artwork:
October. Engraving by Samuel Williams. William Hone, The Everyday Book and Table Book, (1838), p. 1346
Hawking. Engraving based on an 11th century manuscript. William
Walsh, Curiosities of Popular Customs
(1898), p. 762
