The Month of November, the eleventh month in the Gregorian calendar, received its name from the Latin numeral novem because it was the ninth month in the Julian calendar.
November includes the oldest special day to have originated in the United States. In 1621, Governor William Bradford of Massachusetts proclaimed a day for feasting, prayer, and thanksgiving. It had its forerunner in the harvest-home celebrations of England, but it was a very special day for the Pilgrims. The idea spread throughout the states but was not universally celebrated until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, persuaded President Lincoln to issue a general proclamation in 1863. Since then, Thanksgiving Day has been observed as a holiday by all states and territories of the United States. This year Thanksgiving will be celebrated on Thursday, November 24th.
November also has a traditional day for revelry. It is Guy Fawkes Day, the anniversary of the November 5, 1605, gunpowder plot to blow up the English Parliament and the king. It is observed throughout England and in many parts of the British Commonwealth. It is a popular festival for children and students. It is said that the undergraduates at Oxford University fill the streets on Guy Fawkes night lighting fireworks. The students who get into trouble on this night are eligible to join the Bowler Hat Club, whose members vow to promote the use of the Bowler hat. In other parts of England, the celebration centers around big bonfires. In Nassau and in the Caribbean, Guy Fawkes parades are accompanied by calypso bands.
Several observances around the beginning of November are believed to be related, linked to the old Celtic celebration of Samhain on November 1. These events include Halloween (October 31), Day of the Dead in Mexico (October 31 to November 2), All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).
In 2021, Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov 6th; Nov 8th is Election Day; and Nov 11th is Veteran’s Day. Thanksgiving will be Nov 24th.
The chrysanthemum is the November flower, and the gem is the topaz.
November celebrates:
- Aviation History Month
- Child Safety Protection Month
- Family Literacy Month
- International Drum Month
- National Adoption Awareness Month
- National Epilepsy Month
- National Model Railroad Month
- National Novel Writing Month
- National Pet Adoption Month
- National Sleep Comfort Month
- Native American Heritage Month
- Real Jewelry Month
November celebrates with food:
- National Fun with Fondue Month
- National Georgia Pecan Month
- Peanut Butter Lovers Month
- National Pepper Month
- National Pomegranate Month
- National Stuffing Month
- National Raisin Bread Month
and this month celebrates the anniversaries of the admission of 6 states to the union:
- Nov 2nd – North Dakota and South Dakota in 1889
- Nov 8 – Montana in 1889
- Nov 11 – Washington in 1889
- Nov 16 – Oklahoma in 1907
- Nov 21 – North Carolina in 1789