The month of October is filled with celebrations from various cultures.
Oktoberfest is a festival celebrated in Munich, Germany. Although it is not an official holiday, millions of people travel to Germany to participate in the festivities, which include, but are not limited to, parades, concerts, rides, and buying souvenirs. It is one of the most celebrated festivals in the entire year. On Oct. 16, 2025, the Kiwanis Club of Plainfield hosted its 5th Annual Oktoberfest.
The Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, is a period of prayer, self-reflection, and repentance. The holiday is about reflecting upon the past year and committing to grow in the coming year, celebrated through synagogue services and home rituals.
Another Jewish celebration in October is Yom Kippur, which is “The Day of Atonement.” It is considered to be one of the holiest days. A Yom Kippur tradition is a 24-hour fasting period for those healthy enough to do so safely.
Sukkot, a Jewish holiday of deep tradition and meaning, comes five days after Yom Kippur’s end. Sukkot is a day to celebrate the relationship between a devotee and God. The traditions surrounding the celebration center on building and dwelling in a temporary hut called a sukkah.
Dia De Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that spans over two days. It is a day to honor those who have passed on by setting up altars called ofrendas. Ofrendas are typically decorated with marigolds, pictures of the departed, and the favorite foods or drinks of the people being honored.
The festival of lights, Diwali, is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. The festival spans five separate days, with the key rituals of Diwali taking place on the third day. The overall symbolism of the celebration is to mark the victory of light over darkness.
“For my family, on day one we tend to clean the house and shop for things like kitchen utensils and precious metals like gold or silver. On the second day we tend to start lighting dia’s, create colorful designs with a sand called rangoli, and being that this festival is known as the “festival of lights”, my family decorates our house with lights everywhere. We sometimes put up so many lights to the point that it’s hard to find a place of shadow within the house during this time,” senior Shivam Goswami said.
Halloween, sometimes referred to as All Hallows’ Eve, is celebrated on Oct. 31. The holiday originated with the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain, a festival celebrated through lighting bonfires and wearing costumes to ward off spirits. Over time, the holiday has become less ritualistic and more lighthearted, with the common activities of carving pumpkins, trick or treating, and dressing up in fun costumes.
