October 31: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
From the ancient Celtic traditions of Samhain to the global festivities of Halloween, October 31 marks a threshold between the seen and unseen worlds.
About October 31
For many, October 31 is synonymous with the spooky fun of Halloween, but its roots run much deeper into the ancient Gaelic celebration of Samhain. This seasonal transition, marking the end of summer and the start of the darker half of the year, remains a spiritual cornerstone for Neopagans today. In parts of the British Isles, such as the Isle of Man, the day is known as Hop-tu-Naa, while in Mexico, it serves as the opening chapter of the vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations.
Beyond the costumes and candy, this date has served as a pivot point for world history. In 1517, the religious landscape of Europe was forever altered when Martin Luther famously posted his 95 Theses, sparking the Protestant Reformation. Whether through the lens of spiritual evolution or cultural celebration, October 31 has always been a day of profound transformation.
Holidays & Observances on October 31
- Día de la Canción Criolla (Peru)
- Earliest day on which All Saints Day can fall, while November 6 is the latest; celebrated on Saturday between October 31 and November 6 (Finland, Sweden)
- Halloween and related celebrations: Allantide (Cornwall)
- Halloween and related celebrations: Halloween (Ireland, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and other places)
- Halloween and related celebrations: Hop-tu-Naa (Isle of Man)
- Halloween and related celebrations: Samhain in the Northern Hemisphere, Beltane in the Southern Hemisphere; begins on sunset of October 31 (Gaels, Welsh people and Neopagan Wheel of the Year)
- Halloween and related celebrations: The first day of the Day of the Dead, celebrated until November 2 (Mexico)
- Girl Scouts Founders Day (United States)
Fun & National Days on October 31
- Carve a Pumpkin Day — Grab a knife and some creativity to make your spookiest jack-o'-lantern yet!
- National Candy Apple Day — Indulge in the perfect autumn treat by enjoying a sweet, sticky candy apple.
- National Knock-Knock Jokes Day — Lighten the spooky mood by sharing your funniest knock-knock jokes with friends.
- National Increase Your Psychic Powers Day — Try some meditation to see if you can tap into your inner intuition.
- Books for Treats Day
- Girl Scout Founder's Day
- Hug A Sheep Day
- National Caramel Apple Day
- National Doorbell Day
On This Day in History
- 475 — The era of Western Roman authority saw Romulus Augustulus being declared the last Emperor of the West.
- 1517 — Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation by nailing his 95 Theses to a church door in Wittenberg.
- 1587 — The doors of the Leiden University Library officially opened following the institution's establishment several years prior.
- 1864 — Nevada officially joined the United States of America, being admitted as the nation's 36th state.
- 1913 — The very first transcontinental automobile highway in the U.S., the Lincoln Highway, was officially dedicated.
- 1917 — During the First World War, the Battle of Beersheba featured one of history's final successful cavalry charges.
- 1922 — Benito Mussolini rose to power in Italy after being appointed as the country's Prime Minister.
- 1940 — The Battle of Britain concluded, leading German forces to cancel their planned invasion known as Operation Sea Lion.
- 1941 — Construction finally reached completion on the massive Mount Rushmore monument after fourteen years of work.
- 1968 — President Lyndon B. Johnson announced a halt to all U.S. aerial and naval bombardments of North Vietnam.
- 2000 — The first permanent resident crew launched aboard the Soyuz TM-31, beginning continuous human presence on the ISS.
- 2011 — The United Nations recognized the global human population reaching the significant milestone of seven billion people.
Famous Birthdays on October 31
- 1632 — Johannes Vermeer, The legendary Dutch master celebrated for his unparalleled ability to capture light and domestic scenes.
- 1760 — Katsushika Hokusai, The iconic Japanese artist renowned for his influential woodblock prints and mastery of composition.
- 1795 — John Keats, The influential English Romantic poet known for his deeply sensory and beautiful lyrical works.
- 1815 — Karl Weierstrass, A highly influential German mathematician who provided rigorous foundations for mathematical analysis.
- 1860 — Juliette Gordon Low, The visionary American leader who served as the essential founder of the Girl Scouts.
- 1887 — Chiang Kai-shek, The influential Chinese political leader and general who served as the Republic of China's first president.
- 1892 — Alexander Alekhine, The brilliant Russian grandmaster who held the title of World Chess Champion.
- 2000 — Willow Smith, The talented American singer and actress who rose to fame as a young performer.