October 31st - Holidays and Observances

(click on the day for details)

• Christian feast day:
  • Alphonsus Rodriguez
  • Ampliatus
  • Begu
  • Erc of Slane (in Cornwall)
  • Foillan (in Namur)
  • Martin Luther (Anglican Communion)
  • Paul Shinji Sasaki and Philip Lindel Tsen (Episcopal Church)
  • Quentin
  • Blessed Theodore Romzha (Ruthenian Catholic Church)
  • Wolfgang of Regensburg
  • October 31 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
• 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 (Ireland, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and other places)
  • Hop-tu-Naa (Isle of Man)
  • 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)
  • The first day of the Day of the Dead, celebrated until November 2 (Mexico)
• Girl Scouts Founders Day (United States)
• King Father's Birthday (Cambodia)
• National Unity Day (India)
• Reformation Day (Slovenia, parts of Germany, Chile, various Protestant churches with a particular emphasis in Lutheran and Reformed ones)
• Saci Day (Brazil)

Observances (click on the day for details)

Caramel Apple Day

Fun Observances

Magic Day

October 31 is Magic Day, a day that commemorates the life and times of one of the world’s best-known magicians Harry Houdini.

Best known for his escapist acts, Houdini died on this date in 1926 and this unofficial holiday was created a year after Harry Houdini's death as Houdini Day. The Society of American Magicians also organizes a National Magic Week every year from October 25 to October 31 as a way to celebrate and appreciate the art and science behind magic.

Magic Events

Practitioners of magic and magic enthusiasts all over the world celebrate the day by organizing magic events and performances.

Born as Erik Weisz in Hungary, Harry Houdini is still one of the world's best known escapologist and stunt performer. His famous escape acts include the milk can escape where he escaped after being sealed in a milk can filled with water and the straightjacket act, in which he escaped after being straitjacketed and suspended by his ankles from a crane.

In addition to being an escape artist, Houdini was also a silent film actor and an avid aviator.

Magic Day is also known as National Magic Day in the United States.

How to Celebrate?

• Learn a few magic tricks and entertain your family and friends.
• Read about the science and art behind magic acts.
• Attend a magic show.
• Watch movies that Harry Houdini acted in. Some of his more famous works include The Master Mystery and The Man from Beyond.
• Since it is also Halloween on October 31, why not go crazy with the magic theme? Dress like a magician, decorate your home with a magic theme and entertain trick or treaters with magic acts.

Did You Know...

...that historians believe that the first magic performance was held in 2700 BCE by an Egyptian magician called Dedi?

***

Sorry folks, that is it for today, not feeling at all well. I will try for a full update tomorrow.

Same goes for the 'Did You Know' it will be the main heading only.

sandrewn