November 2021 Holidays

Get your planners and calendars ready—it’s already time for our monthly round-up of holidays! Fall is here and we’re so excited to welcome the Holiday vibes, and all the other fun celebrations this month! 

Below is a list of days that we’re looking forward to celebrating and recognizing this November: 

All month: National American Indian Heritage Month, National Diabetes Awareness Month, National Epilepsy Month, and National Novel Writing Month 

 11/1 & 11/2: Dia de Los Muertos 

• November 1st and 2nd of each year is known as Dia de Los Muertos. The English translation for Dia de Los Muertos means “Day of the Dead,” and it is a holiday meant to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on. 
• Dia de Los Muertos originated in Mexico and is now celebrated by people of Mexican heritage all over the world. It involves creating an ofrenda (altar) decorated with pictures of deceased loved ones, small gifts and sweets in their honor, papel picados, and marigolds.  
• Over time, the Day of the Dead has become one of the most historically and culturally significant holiday in Mexican culture. 

• In 1845, the United States Congress chose the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day to streamline our voting process. 
• Have you checked your voter registration and done your research on who/what’s on your election ballot? There’s still time before you head to the polls today! 

• Since 1998, the 13th of November is Internationally recognized as World Kindness Day.  
• The meaning behind World Kindness Day is to highlight the good deeds in our communities and focus on the positive power of kindness that bridges the divide of race, religion, politics, gender, and location. 
• It’s important to be kind every day, but why not start by bringing a little extra sunshine and kindness into someone’s life today? 

• Veteran’s Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans who have served in the Unted States Armed Forces.  
• It was established in 1919 after President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to the country on the first Armistice Day after World War I. 

• Every year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. Although this holiday has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it is now mostly celebrated as a secular holiday. 

• Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, and it is a 5-day celebration observed every Fall after the end of Summer Harvest and beginning of the New Moon.  
• The historical and cultural significance of Diwali has been celebrated for centuries in India and is now celebrated by those of Indian heritage all over the world. In Hindu texts, it is meant to symbolize the spiritual victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. 
• Many celebrate the Festival of Lights by cleaning their homes and decorating it with oil lamps, lights, and rangolis, which are colorful circular art patterns). 

• November 6th is officially known as National Nachos Day! This popular Mexican snack was first created in 1943 when Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya created is in his restaurant.  
• Treat yourself to a helping of yummy nachos to commemorate this fun holiday! 

• Hanukkah is an 8-day holiday in the Jewish religion. It’s observed for 8 days and 8 nights to commemorate the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the Second Temple during the Maccabean revolt. 
• This festival is observed by lighting the candles of a menorah that has 9 branches, singing Hannukah songs, playing the game of dreidal, and eating latkes, sufganiyot, and other cultural dishes.  

Moon Phases for October 

• New Moon: 11/4 
• First Quarter: 11/11 
• Full Moon (Beaver Moon): 11/19 
• *PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE*: 11/19 
• Last Quarter: 11/27