Deepavali (Singapore)
Deepavali, or Diwali, is a festival celebrated by all Hindus to commemorate Lord Rama and his wife, Sita’s return to Ayodhya after his 14-year exile. It was a dark night when they first returned hence his people lit their houses with little lamps (diyas) so that Rama and Sita could find their way. For some Hindus, Deepavali is also celebrated in honour of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lighting of these diyas would then make it easy for Lakshmi to find her way to houses. Thus, this festival is known as the Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights is to signify the victory of good over evil; however, it does not just mean the physical lighting of these diyas but refers to an Inner Light, which, according to Hindu philosophy, is called the Atman. In Singapore, thousands of Hindu families turn their homes into enclaves of warm golden light even as they offer prayers, exchange gifts and share sweetmeats with each other.
110th Anniversary of Press Releases
This year will mark the 110th anniversary of the first press release. According to public relations lore, the press release was born following a train wreck on October 28, 1906, in Atlantic City, N.J., that left more than 50 people dead. The train was owned by Pennsylvania Railroad, one of Ivy Lee’s clients. In response to the disaster, he convinced the railroad to issue a statement about what had transpired. In doing so, he set in motion a practice for companies to address issues important to them, or, in the case of the railroad, to offer an explanation of what had happened. The New York Times was said to have been so impressed by Lee’s release that the newspaper printed it exactly as Lee had written it. Although it’s rare for media outlets to use press releases verbatim these days, they still often act as a starting point for a journalist to create a story."
Labour Day (New Zealand)
In New Zealand, Labour Day is a public holiday held on the fourth Monday in October. Its origins are traced back to the eight-hour working day movement that arose in the newly founded Wellington colony in 1840, primarily because of carpenter Samuel Parnell's refusal to work more than eight hours a day.
Chulalongkorn Day - Observed (Thailand)
October 23 is a national holiday in Thailand to mark Chulalongkorn Day. The public holiday commemorates one of Thailand’s most revered kings, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who passed away on October 23, 1910, at the age of 57. He had ruled what was then Siam, for 42 years. Born in 1853, Chulalongkorn came to the throne when he was just 16 years old. His long reign proved to be one of foresight and modernisation. At a time when colonial powers such as Britain, France and Portugal were extending their influence in Asia, King Chulalongkorn managed to keep Thailand independent with a clever mixture of diplomacy and leadership.
WTA Finals (Singapore)
First played in 1972, what is now known as the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global has been staged in such noteworthy locales as Boca Raton, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, Munich, Madrid, Doha and Istanbul. The WTA's season finale be held in Singapore from 2014 to 2018, yet another example of the WTA's huge presence in Asia. The event features the season's Top 8 singles players and Top 8 doubles teams competing for $7 million in prize money. Martina Navratilova has the most titles in the history of the prestigious tournament with eight, followed by Steffi Graf and Serena Williams with five, and Chris Evert with four. Navratilova also has the tournament record with 11 doubles titles, 10 of them coming alongside Pam Shriver.
Xinhai Revolution (China)
The 1911 Revolution was the spontaneous but popular uprising that ended the long reign of the Qing dynasty. It is also known as the Xinhai Revolution, after the Chinese calendar year in which it occurred. The 1911 Revolution had apparently benign origins, beginning with disputes and protests over railway ownership in Sichuan province and surrounding areas. The flashpoint for revolution came in October, when a republican-minded army unit mutinied in Wuchang, Hubei province. Their rebellious spirit spread to surrounding regions, igniting a tinderbox of revolutionary sentiment. By the end of 1911, nationalist revolutionaries were assembling to form a new government. These men, led by Sun Yixian, were determined to create a Chinese republic – but they lacked the means to force the Qing to surrender power. In the end Sun Yixian reached a compromise with powerful military leader Yuan Shikai, whose intervention forced the abdication of infant emperor Puyi. This deal, however, placed power in the hands of Shikai, who was more interested in his own ambitions than furthering Chinese republicanism.
ROC National Celebration Day (Taiwan)
The National Day of the Republic of China, also referred to as Double Ten Day or Double Tenth Day, is the national day of the Republic of China (ROC). It commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in China and establishment of the ROC on January 1, 1912. As a result of the Chinese Civil War, the Government of the Republic of China lost control of mainland China and relocated to Taiwan in December 1949. National Day is now mainly celebrated in Taiwan, but is also celebrated by some overseas Chinese.
Health Sports Day (Japan)
The second Monday of October is Taiiku no Hi, or Sports Day, a national holiday to foster healthy minds and bodies through physical activity. It was established to commemorate the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which were held from October 10 to 24. It was designated a national holiday two years later in 1966. Until 1999 the holiday was on October 10, but beginning in 2000 it has been changed to the second Monday of the month. In celebration of this holiday, many Japanese schools, business and towns hold special Sports Day events including the three-legged race, beanbag toss, and tug-of-war.
Chung Yeung Festival (Hong Kong & Taiwan)
The Chung Yeung Festival falls on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. Similar to the Ching Ming Festival, the Chung Yeung Festival is when entire families congregate at cemeteries to engage in age-old practices of ancestor worship. It is also popular to hike to the city’s high points on this day, as it’s believed this will bring good luck. This custom is rooted in a Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) legend in which a soothsayer advised a man to take his family to high ground for the 9th day of the 9th moon. The man complied and the next day discovered that all the inhabitants of his village had been slaughtered, while he and his family had been spared by leaving for the hills. Oct 10 (observed) will be a holiday for Hong Kong.
Hangeul Day (Korea)
Hangeul Day is a national holiday designated to celebrate the creation of the Korean alphabet, invented by King Sejong (reign: 1418-1450). Before Hangeul, Chinese characters called “Hanja” had been used in writing. However, Hanja, for its sheer plethora of characters, was difficult to learn, especially for people of lower social status with little or no access to education, and this led to rampant illiteracy throughout the country. In order to resolve the problem, King Sejong began developing a new writing system that would be easy to access as well as to learn. At last, on October 9, 1443, Hangeul (Hunminjeongeum) was invented and was disseminated with a thorough explanation of logic behind each stroke of its characters. It was published for the first time in 1446. The invention of Hangeul contributed substantially to reducing illiteracy in Korea.
Global Mobile Internet Conference in Taiwan
The world’s most influential mobile internet conference arrives in Taipei for thought provoking presentations on the industry’s hottest topics, exclusive opportunities to connect with industry thought leaders, and not to mention, unforgettable after parties. GMIC Taipei is where the international mobile community gathers to keep pace with the latest innovations and embrace the future.
World Smile Day
World Smile Day is celebrated on the first Friday in the month of October every year. The idea of World Smile Day was coined and initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts. Harvey Ball is known to have created the Smiley Face in 1963. The World's first World Smile Day was held in the year 1999 and has been held annually since.
Taiwan Restoration Day (Taiwan)
It is celebrated on October 25th each year to commemorate the independence of Taiwan from Japanese colonial rule
National Foundation Day (Korea)
National Foundation Day, Gaecheonjeol, is a public holiday in South Korea on October 3. This holiday celebrates the formation of the first Korean state of Gojoseon in 2333 BC. This date has traditionally been regarded as the date for the founding of the Korean nation. Gaecheonjeol is also recognized in North Korea, although not as a public holiday, with an annual ceremony at the Mausoleum of Tangun, the founder of Gojoseon.
Awal Muharram (Malaysia)
Awal Muharram, also called Maal Hijrah, celebrates the beginning of the Islamic New Year, and is also the beginning of ten days of remembrance for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, who was killed in the battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram in the year 680 AD. Muharram, derived from the word haram, which means sinful, is a month considered most sacred of all besides the month of Ramadan. During this time, Muslims are forbidden to fight; hence, a time of mourning and peace. This first month of the Islamic year coincides with the migration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD and is therefore, considered a time for self-evaluation and a starting point for change. To celebrate this day, activities like spiritual singing and religious meeting will take place throughout the country.
World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day is celebrated on October 1 every year. It is a celebration established in 1977 by North American Vegetarian Society for promoting life-improving possibilities, compassion and joy of the vegetarianism in the field of the health consideration, compassion for animals, ecological awareness and worldwide hunger problems.
National Day (Hong Kong)
The People's Republic of China (PRC) observes its anniversary on October 1. National Day activities in Hong Kong start with a special flag-raising ceremony by the Hong Kong Police Force beside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Other events include a National Day reception and a firework display, as well as hundreds of district events over the weekend.
The National Day of the People's Republic of China (China)
Founded on 1 October 1949 with a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square, the People's Republic of China (PRC) observes its anniversary on 1 October every year. In China, the holiday is officially three days, but the holidays are usually extended by bridge holidays compensated by working on weekends depending how the holiday falls in the week. This creates a so-called 'Golden Week' of holidays. This makes it the second largest holiday period in China. This approach was introduced in 2000 to help boost domestic tourism and to allow families to make long journeys to visit relatives.
Family and Community Day (Australia)
Family and Community Day is a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in Australia on the first Monday of the September/October school holidays. Family and Community Day is a day off work for most people in the ACT. The idea of fostering quality time for workers to spend with their families on this day is strongly encouraged by the territory’s government and the unions, who work together to organize and promote community events on this day. Many people use this time for leisure activities and hobbies.
The 13th China-ASEAN Expo
The China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) is co-sponsored by ministries/department of commerce or industry and trade of China and the 10 ASEAN member states as well as the ASEAN Secretariat, and is organized by the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Having been successfully concluded for 12 sessions so far, the CAEXPO has grown into an event of special international influence and plays an important role in promoting the China-ASEAN friendly cooperation and building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The 13th CAEXPO will highlight the International Economic and Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exhibition. Prioritizing infrastructure construction and equipment supply, this exhibition will be enriched with innovation in science & technology, metallurgy and building materials and financial services, aiming at practically strengthening cooperation in industrial capacity, equipment manufacturing, economy, trade and investment among China, ASEAN and other countries along the Belt and Road.