The month of November is the eleventh month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of autumn, and THANKSGIVING Holiday for America!
This year Thanksgiving Day is November 23rd. It always falls on the fourth Thursday of the month, this is a rule set by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1941.
New England and Virginia colonists originally celebrated days of fasting, as well as days of thanksgiving, thanking God for blessings such as harvests, ship landings, military victories, or the end of a drought. These were observed through church services, accompanied with feasts and other communal gatherings.
And although Thanksgiving is not celebrated in the UK, the harvest part of it is still celebrated by many churches and most schools today.
In Canada, Thanksgiving is a little more low key than it is for Americans, nonetheless, it is a time for families to gather and enjoy a turkey dinner while celebrating the harvest.
According to WIKI, as well as America and Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and the Philippines. It is also observed in the Dutch town of Leiden and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island.
Thanksgiving brings famlies of all ages together.
There are many different styles of Menus, each year becoming more lavish overtime.
Here is a simple Thanksgiving Dinner Menu below:
November is the month to remind us of all the positive things around us. From kindness day to thanksgiving day, November has many dates for us to remember the positivity.
Starting with Day 1 World Vegan Day
The Vegan Society came into being in November 1944. They took the initiative to start this day on their 50th anniversary in 1994. They chose 1 November as the date of the establishment was not clear. The idea is to promote veganism by highlighting its benefits.
1st and 2nd All Saints and All Souls
The 1st is a day is to honor all the saints across the globe. It is a Christian festival. It falls on different dates in different countries. Pope Gregory III made a chapel to honor all saints on 1 November (731-741) in Rome.
The 2nd is the day of the dead. This day is to commemorate all the souls who have died. It is a Christian festival. Christianity believes that there is a connection between those in heaven and those living.
10th World Science Day. UNESCO made this day official in 2001 and the first celebration took place in 2002. The idea is to highlight the importance of science for society’s development.
1th Armistice Day / Remembrance Day / Veterans Day. The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was an armistice between the allies and Germany to end World War I. this took place on 11 November 1918. The treaty of Versailles ( formal Peace agreement ) was signed in 1919. The first celebration took place in Buckingham Palace, London. The idea is to remember the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the war.
13th World Kindness Day – The World Kindness Movement led to the introduction of this day in 1998. The first celebration took place in 2009 in many countries. The idea is to promote positive energy and kindness around the world. The theme for 2019 was “Empathy”.
Then on the 16 th following on from Kindness Day is – World Tolerance Day. UNESCO made this day official in 1995. They aim to highlight the dangers of intolerance. They promote understanding and peace between different cultures and diversity.
25th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Mirabal sisters stood against the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. They were killed on 25 November 1960. The Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentros took the initiative to start this day in 1981. The idea is to discourage violence and highlight the challenges faced by women. The UN made this day official in 1999. The theme for 2019 was “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands Against Violence to Women.
30th St Andrews Day. It is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle. He was one of the primary disciples of Jesus. It is the national day of Scotland. The churches across the country celebrate this day with a big feast.
Fourth Thursday of November. It is the harvest festival of the United States. It is the start of the winter holiday season. The central idea is to have a thanksgiving dinner. The dishes are mainly turkey, potato, pumpkin pie, cranberries, etc. It is a national holiday in the US. The Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday. It is because the sale goes up for the holiday season from this day.
The above are just a few of the world important dates and days.
A PRAYER FOR NOVEMBER Dear Lord and LIFE, Giver of days, and life of all, we are grateful for this Fall, and for the wonderful gifts this season brings. A time to ruminate on the goodness of provisions, and the many blessings we enjoy today. Receive our prayers of thanksgiving, with humble appreciation. Amen. ~ Blog & Prayer by Reverend Dr. Dawnecia Palmer, Fall 2023