October is the tenth month of the year and the second of autumn. In the old Roman calendar, it held the eighth place and its name rooted from the Latin and Greek word “octo”, meaning eight. When January and February were later added, October shifted to tenth place but kept its original name.

In mythology, October is personified as a wanderer, grieving the loss of flowers and the warmth of summer days. He mourns as the pale leaves fall gently from trees to the ground. Legend says that Chrysanthemums pleaded with God to let October stay, and in their honor, they became known as “octovroues”, a name deriving from October itself and still used today to describe these beautiful flowers.

In Cyprus, October marks the beginning of the rainy season, a time when fields come alive with agricultural preparations for sowing. For this reason, October is also known as “Sporias” or “Spartaris”, meaning that October is the quintessential month for sowing. A local proverb captures the importance of the first rains: “If October thunders, it will be a good year” (Cyp. An poumpourisei o Oktovris, ennan kalochronia).

The crucial role of October rains for the upcoming agricultural year is also expressed in the following proverb: “If October rains and the earth is satisfied, sell your wheat and buy oxen. If October doesn’t rain enough, sell your oxen and buy wheat” (Cyp. An ivrexi o Oktovris tze hortasi I gi, poula to sitarin sou tze agorase vouthkia. An den hortasi o Oktovris tin gin, poula ta vouthkia sou tze agorase sitarin”.

This proverb means that sufficient rains in October promise a good harvest, making livestock a profitable investment, whereas scarce rains lead to poor crops and potential food shortages, forcing farmers to trade their animals for food.

Some days of October are warmer than others, a period known in Cyprus as “kalotzeri tous tempelides”, meaning the summer of the lazy. In Europe, it is called St. Luke’s Summer. In the villages of Lemesos, tradition holds that this “summer” begins on the feast day of Saint Hermogenes (October 5^th) and ends on the feast day of Saint Demetrius (October 26^th).

Religious fairs, known as panigyria, are a cherished tradition in our villages, celebrating their patron saints. They begin on the eve of the feast with a Vespers service and continue throughout the actual day. This month, panigyria will take place in the village of Menoiko on the 2nd for Saint Kyprianos (patron saint against evil forces and the evil eye), in Kalopanagiotis on the 4th for Saint Ioannis Lampadistis, in Kourion/Episkopi on the 5^th for Saint Hermogenes, in Avgorou on the 6th for Saint Kendeas, in Kolossi and Aradippou on the 18^th for Saint Loukas (Aradippou’s is listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List), and in Agios Dimitrios Marathasas on October 26^th for Saint Demetrius.