The weather is getting colder, leaves are beginning to change color and my favorite month of the year has finally arrived: October. Fall has always been my favorite season. I love everything about the weather, the activities, the food – basically anything fall-related, I am a fan of. But out of all the months of the fall season, October is hands down the best.
Weather
October is the peak of fall. In September, the weather can still be very summer-feeling, and may not even feel autumnal until the end of the month when the seasons officially change. In November, though it is considered part of fall, the weather can start getting pretty nasty. The temperature often dips to an uncomfortable cold, and there are even occasional snow storms.
October is right in the middle of these two months, making it perfect for that in-between fall weather that many people love. The weather is usually perfect- not too warm and summery, but also not cold enough that a large winter coat is required. This type of weather is lovingly known by many people as ‘sweater weather’- cold enough to wear a sweater, but not freezing cold.
Nature is also beautiful throughout the month of October. Leaves are changing color and trees are flushed in reds and oranges. It is a great time of year to go on a hike and admire the colors of the changing season.
Activities
Since school usually starts around this time, September is commonly known as the back-to-school month. Students are usually stressed after starting their classes and getting settled into the school routine after a long summer. Once October comes around, students usually know their routine and what to expect from their classes.
November is the beginning of the holiday season, which can start to usher in stress to get prepared for Thanksgiving and eventually Christmas. Thanksgiving can especially be nerve-racking for people anxious to cook dinner or gather with a large group of family members. Many people also like to get their Christmas shopping done during November, which can be very stressful.
With October being right in between these two stress-inducing months, it makes it the perfect time to relax and do autumnal activities. Going to apple orchards, picking pumpkins and going to haunted houses are all popular activities that people do in October, all of which contribute to October being a great month.
Halloween
October also contains possibly the most stress-free holiday: Halloween. Much like New Year’s Eve, Halloween is a holiday that is mainly known for its partying. The point of Halloween is often just to dress up and have fun. The most stressful part about the holiday is trying to figure out what costume to wear each year, and many people enjoy this aspect. Trick-or-treating is a common activity for kids to do on or around Halloween, which is always a good time. Adults also celebrate the holiday, often by throwing parties where costumes are required.
Pumpkin carving is also a staple Halloween activity that can be very fun and creative. Halloween movies are great as well — everything from “Hocus Pocus” to “Harry Potter,” to innumerable horror movies — all are perfect to watch in preparation for this holiday.
Food
The food and drinks associated with October are one of my favorite parts of the month. Pumpkin-flavored things immediately come to mind as an October staple- pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pies and pumpkin cookies. Everything pumpkin-flavored is delicious and really makes October a great month for food. Apples are also known as a fall food and are popular in the month of October- things like apple pie and apple crisp are common. Fall drinks are something that a lot of people look forward to at this time of year. Pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider and other fall-flavored coffees and teas are very popular and delicious.
I think that a lot of people would agree with me when I say that October is the best month of the year. Fall brings a lot of cozy aesthetics that most people enjoy. For these reasons and many others, October is without a doubt the best month of the year.