Fun October Trivia Quiz & Facts! Exciting Questions for Kids

Jack-o'-lantern

The pumpkin used as a Halloween decoration is called a “Jack-o’-lantern.” Jack is a clever, scheming man from an Irish tale, and the name “Jack-o’-lantern” comes from the image of him wandering the afterlife carrying a lantern made from a turnip.

Cookie

In the Jomon period, acorns were made into cookies and eaten. Such remains have also been excavated from sites of that era. Today, acorns may not commonly be associated with food, but if you remove any insects inside and thoroughly leach out the bitterness, they are edible.

the tenth month (Kannazuki), literally “Month Without Gods”

October is called “Kannazuki” in the old Japanese calendar. One explanation for this name is that the gods leave the shrines around the country to gather at Izumo Taisha, so the gods are “absent” elsewhere. For that reason, at Izumo Taisha—where the deities assemble—it is also said to be called “Kamiarizuki,” meaning the month when the gods are present.

The Thirteenth Night

In September there is the night of the full moon (Jūgoya), and in October there is Jūsan'ya, also known as the “Later Moon” or “Chestnut Moon.” This night is considered the next most beautiful moon after Jūgoya. For Jūsan'ya, in addition to 13 moon-viewing rice dumplings, offerings of chestnuts and beans are also made.

turnip

When it comes to Halloween, pumpkins are commonly seen, but in the past turnips were used instead. However, when Halloween traditions spread to the United States, pumpkins were used to make lanterns because pumpkins were produced in greater quantities there than turnips. This spread around the world and continues to the present day.

The umbrella closes.

In autumn, you can often find pine cones lying by the roadside. If you put these pine cones in water, their scales close up. When they dry, the scales open again. If you come across a pine cone while playing or on a walk, be sure to give it a try!

Masaoka Shiki

October 26 is Persimmon Day. It is said to originate from a haiku by Masaoka Shiki. From among the 200,000 haiku he composed in his lifetime, the most famous one—“When I eat a persimmon, a bell tolls at Horyu-ji”—was the basis for establishing the day. When Shiki visited Nara, the persimmon he ate was apparently very delicious. The haiku depicts how, as he savored the taste of the persimmon, he heard the sound of a bell coming from Todai-ji.

Reading Week

The two-week period from October 27 to November 9 each year is called Reading Week. It began as “Library Week,” established in 1924, but was temporarily abolished due to the war and reinstated after the war under the name “Reading Week.” Since it’s the season for reading in autumn, please try reading lots of books!

Apple

There’s a saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and apples are known as a very healthy fruit. They’re rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber, and they’re in season in autumn. With their crisp texture, they’re delicious eaten raw or used in treats like apple pie.

Opal

The birthstone for October is opal. It is a rainbow-colored gemstone that appears in different colors depending on the viewing angle. Its gemstone meanings include happiness and hope, and it is considered a positive stone. Incidentally, the gemstone tourmaline is also an October birthstone.