What You Might Not Know About October

By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Staff Writer
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The autumn leaves are changing in different robust shades of yellow, orange, red and brown. The air is getting cooler, picking up the leaves as they travel across campus.  The smells of cinnamon and pumpkin become fixtures in mall outlets and dorm rooms alike. Football season is in full swing. People begin to brainstorm ideas for their original Halloween costume. An array of national pride festivities are held globally. This is October.
Coined the “yellow month” by the Slavic people, October is historically a month filled with international observances and month-long cultural celebrations.  China, Cyprus, Nigeria, Portugal, Croatia, Spain, Germany, Niue, Austria, St Vincent, Turkmenistan, Greece, Turkey and Slovenia all celebrate some sort of national pride or independence holiday in October.
Fiesta Nacional de España is a national day of celebration in Spain, held on Oct. 12. In Spain the festivities are celebrated with a parade of military in Madrid. This procession is attended by special guests including the king of Spain and the prime minister, who have special presiding roles.
Patrulla Águila, or Eagle Patrol, is the name of the Spanish Air Force’s aerobatics team that puts on a mesmerizing display. This honors the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s first arrival in the Americas. Sound familiar? Columbus Day is celebrated in North and South America, some Caribbean countries, Italy, and Spain.  One fun fact about Columbus Day is that not only is it celebrated in Italy, but in all of the “Little Italys” around the world.
October is also home to German American, Filipino American, Italian American and Polish American, Hispanic and LGBT History Month in the United States. Black History Month is celebrated this time of year in the United Kingdom.  United Nations Day is held on the 24, which features an array of cultural exhibits, discussions and performances around the world.
Aside from Columbus Day, it would not be October without the powerful punch of pumpkin in the air. Within the past five years pumpkin sales have had a 34 percent increase according to the U.S Department of Agriculture.
The USDA also reports that acreage (land) dedicated to farming pumpkins has increased by a third in the last decade.  Nielsen, a global measuring company, reported that pumpkin-flavored foods and beverage increased by 14 percent between 2012 and 2013. The pumpkin spice pandemonium has invaded stores like Bath & Body Works, Hallmark, Williams-Sonoma, and definitely the beloved Starbucks. The company has reported to have sold over 200 million pumpkin spiced lattes. Why do Americans love this so much? We are not even consuming the actual nutrients from the vegetable.  We are hooked on the chemically altered sweetness of the product.
“At the basic price of $4 and 300 calories for a 12-ounce tall size, that’s $800 million and 60 billion calories that we’ve spent and consumed on the stuff,” reports Neatorama.com.
Autumn approaches and people begin to feel nostalgic. The aroma of pumpkin and cinnamon can take us back to the brisk fall days of our childhood, going back to school and playing soccer and the cozy and warm hot drinks made by our parents. Memories are powerful.
The most subtle scent can trigger an array of emotions. For myself, the sight of fall leaves and the smell of cinnamon, reminds me of elementary school. My friends and I would play in the courtyard with leaves, creating piles of mess that dirtied our uniforms. After recess we would return for quiet reading in our heavily spice-scented classroom. Cinnamon is an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiacs can rework our mood to the polar opposite of what it was before inhaling the aroma. Above all else, the boom of pumpkin and cinnamon in the air is the signal of holiday season approaching, stretching until after New Year’s.
Halloween is just around the corner. The $8 billion industry, according to Investopedia, has grown considerably from more adults partaking in Halloween festivities.  With the extravagance of costumes, the prices have done well for the booming industry. Costumes now make up 36 percent of the revenue profited from this time of year.
Pet costumes have become extremely popular, with $310 million spent in 2011.  Investopedia also reports that in 2011, $2.3 billion was spent on candy for the Halloween season, approximately 30 percent of revenue, while 27  percent came from decorations, and 6 percent came from greeting cards.  Halloween allows for creativity, while fueling the economy.
This month, reflect on the goals you set for yourself at the start of 2014. Have you accomplished them? If no, there is still ample time. Remember this October to study hard and bask in the good vibes the month has to offer!