Happy Halloween! October 31st observes Magic Day and Knock-Knock Joke Day.
Welcome to day 304 of the year folks, there are 61 days remaining in 2025.
While Halloween is usually a pretty eventful day, the history of what happened on this day may surprise you. Here we’re going to look at facts & historic events that happened on the spookiest day of the entire year!
Did you know that on this day, October 31, 2011, Earth’s population was estimated to reach 7 billion people? This date was calculated and decided on by the United Nations Population Fund.
Keep reading for more fun & interesting facts about October 31st in history!
Historical Events
What memorable events happened on October 31 in history? Keep reading to find out!
Soyuz TM-31 was launched, carrying the first crew to reside long-term on the International Space Station.
The TM-31, launched from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, was the first Soyuz spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). An American Astronaut, William Shepherd, was a part of the crew, along with two Russian cosmonauts - Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev. They stayed aboard the ISS for 136 days.
Medal of Honor was released for PlayStation, instantly becoming the best shooter to date.
The story for this iconic WWII game was written and directed by Steven Spielberg, who was inspired to create a game based on the war after watching his son play Goldeneye 007. He wrote the story for Medal of Honor at the same time he was working on Saving Private Ryan.
Famous Births
Is today your birthday? If so, you share the same birthday with Willow Smith. Here are a few other famous people born on this day.
2000
Willow Smith
American Singer
Age
25 years old
Born IN
California, USA
1981
Frank Iero
American Musician
Age
44 years old
Born IN
New Jersey, USA
1993
Letitia Wright
Guyanese Actress
Age
32 years old
Born IN
Georgetown, Guyana
1976
Piper Perabo
American Actress
Age
49 years old
Born IN
Texas, USA
Birthday & Zodiac
If you were born on the day of Halloween, your zodiac sign is Scorpio.
The Scorpio star sign is the most intense in the zodiac. Scorpios are known for their passion, determination, and decisiveness.
Pink tourmaline is the birthstone given to people born in October. Tourmaline gets its name from the Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) word “tourmali,” which means “mixed stones.”
If you were born on Halloween, you were likely conceived on the week of February 7 in the same year.
The due date for babies conceived on this day is around July 24, 2026.
Famous Deaths
Unfortunately, October 31st has also been a day where we've had to say some goodbyes over the years…
Quotes
Who said what today throughout history? Here are the most famous things people have said on Oct 31.
1923
“The power of effecting changes for the better is within ourselves, not in the favorableness of circumstances.”
Helen Keller
(American Author)
Special Holidays
If you've got a few minutes spare today, why not celebrate these special holidays.
United States
National Magic Day
Today on National Magic Day, we honor Houdini, one of America’s greatest magicians, who tragically died on this day in 1926. However, Houdini wouldn’t have wanted us to mourn him; he would have wanted us to perform magic! So try some magic trick, if you can, or see a magician!
United States
National Knock-Knock Joke Day
Knock Knock? Who’s there? Why it’s National Knock-Knock Day, of course! Surprisingly enough, Knock-Knock jokes were only invented in the 1920s. So celebrate this newcomer to the comedy scene today by telling some of your favorite knock-knock jokes, or make your own!
Fact Of The Day
Days Until
Your countdown to 2025's upcoming special days!
-
Veterans Day
11 days
-
World Kindness Day
13 days
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Thanksgiving
27 days
-
Christmas Day
55 days
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New Year's Day
62 days
