Who Is Getting Ready for the Fall Season?-Written by Fatima, GiGi’s NYC Participant

Happy October GiGi’s NYC!

There are a lot of great holidays to celebrate in October 2024 such as National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day, Columbus Day, National Food Day, National Candy Corn Day, National Caramel Apple Day, and Halloween. My birthday is also in October on the 26th.

National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day is celebrated on Thursday, October 3rd, and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. One way to celebrate this beautiful day is by hanging hummingbird feeders in your yard and filling them with sugar syrup. Hummingbirds prefer sugar syrup over other liquids. You can also grow flowers in your backyard that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Another idea is to raise caterpillars in your home and release them when they turn to butterflies. Bird lovers also like to arrange and participate in birdwatching tours.

Columbus Day is celebrated on Monday, October 14th and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example people like to attend festive Columbus Day/Italian heritage parades and celebrations with colorful costumes, music, and Italian food. Many cities host Columbus Day parades featuring colorful floats, marching bands, and cultural displays. Another idea for this day is to visit museums, historical sites, or exhibits that focus on Christopher Columbus’s voyages and his impact on world history.

National Food Day is celebrated on Thursday, October 24th this year and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a variety of different ways. One way is to support your local farmers and sustainable and regional agriculture by purchasing food from local farmers’ markets. Another thing to do on this day is to learn about food sources by educating yourself and others about where your food comes from and how it’s produced. Use National Food Day as a chance to learn. On National Food Day, knowledge is as delicious as the dish you’re celebrating.

National Candy Corn Day is celebrated on Wednesday, October 30th this year and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in different ways. For example layer gelatin, pudding, or cakes with white and yellow sugar icing and orange flavors, eat candy corn, make candy corn cocktails, or play games. On this day I am planning on giving out candy corn to everyone who I have class with at Molloy University in Rockville Centre to celebrate my 24th birthday. 

National Caramel Apple Day is celebrated on Thursday, October 31st this year and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. For example you can host a caramel apple making party by inviting family and friends over to make candy apples with you and asking them to bring their favorite toppings. You can also celebrate with hot apple cider and sweet laughter while making homemade caramel apples, share different recipes, go to a fundraiser to support your community, and visit an apple orchard. 

Halloween is also celebrated on Thursday, October 31st this year and a lot of people celebrate the occasion in a lot of different ways. The most popular tradition is going trick-or-treating where children go from house-to-house asking for treats in exchange for not playing tricks on their neighbors. It’s also popular to participate in Halloween activities, such as haunted houses and spooky corn mazes, parties, parades, and costume or jack-o’-lantern contests.

This October I am planning on going apple picking and pumpkin picking with lots of loved ones, going to the movies, baking apple and pumpkin pies, and celebrating my 24th birthday with my family and extended family. 

Wishing all of you a lot of love peace and happiness.

Love,

Fatima