1 Nov
(Sun)
All Saints' Day
Also known as "All Hallows," or "Hallowmas". This day celebrates all the faithful Christian saints and martyrs, known or unknown. The feast gives recognition to all those saints who do not have feast days specifically dedicated to them.
2 Nov
(Mon)
All Soul's Day
Also called Defuncts' Day in Mexico and Belgium. This day is set apart in the Roman Catholic Church for the commemoration of the faithful departed. The celebration is based on the doctrine that the souls of the faithful which at death have not been cleansed from venial sins, or have not atoned for past transgressions, cannot attain the beatific vision, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the mass.
2 Nov
(Mon)
Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie
This day commemorates the coronation of Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia, in 1930. The day is celebrated by Rastafarians throughout the world as one of the most sacred days of the year.
2 Nov
(Mon)
Birthday of Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak Sahib, founder of Sikhism, was born on 20th October, 1469 in present-day Pakistan. An akhand path — an unbroken reading of the Guru Granth Sahib — is begun about two days before the day of the celebration, so that the reading finishes on the morning of the festival. Sikhs gather at the gurdwara (Sikh temple) to hear sermons and sing hymns about the life of the first Guru. The congregation will share a free meal (langar). The gurdwaras are usually illuminated and there are firework displays.
5 Nov
(Thu)
Kathina Day
Theravada Buddhist festival. Kathina comes at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists. In order to hold a 'Kathina', a monastery must have had five monks in residence during the retreat period and only those who were present for the entire retreat are eligible to receive the robe cloth offered. It is a time of giving, for the laity to express gratitude to monks. Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially cloth, which is transformed into a Kathina robe by sewing the pieces of cloth together. The robe formed is presented to one particular monk, often an especially deserving or virtuous one, in a special ceremony.
8 Nov
(Sun)
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 11th November. The day is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most towns and villages, attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and women (principally the Royal British Legion), youth organisations (e.g. Scouts and Guides), and military cadet forces. Wreaths of poppies are laid on the memorials and a two-minutes silence is held at 11am. A national ceremony is held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
11 Nov
(Wed)
Remembrance Day
Also known as Armistice Day, this is the anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compičgne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." In many parts of the world, people take two minutes of silence at 11:00am on this day as a sign of respect for those who lost their life during the war.
12 Nov
(Thu)
Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah
Bahá'í holy day celebrating the birth of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Baha'u'llah was born Husayn Ali at dawn on 12th November, 1817, in Tehran, Persia. Bahá'ís commemorate his birth by abstaining from work and holding joyous meetings open to all. There are no prescribed rituals but gatherings usually involve prayers, devotional readings, music and fellowship.
15 Nov
(Sun)
Shichi-Go-San
Shichi-Go-San is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. The children are dressed up in fine new clothes and taken to a Shinto shrine to pray for their future well-being. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is often observed on the nearest weekend.
24 Nov
(Tue)
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Day commemorating the public execution of the ninth Guru. The Moghul emperor ordered his execution for upholding an individual's right to worship in the manner of his or her choice.
25 - 28 Nov
(4 days)
Hajj
Hajj refers to the annual pilgrimage made by worldwide Muslims to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is the fifth of the Five Pillars in Sunni Islam and one of the ten Branches of Shi'a Islam. Upon arrival in Mecca, the pilgrim performs a series of ritual acts symbolic of the lives of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Hagar.
26 Nov
(Thu)
Day of the Covenant
Bahá'í holy day, also known as the Fęte Day of Abdu'l-Baha. The day on which Bahá'ís commemorate the establishment of the Covenant by Baha'u'llah, the faith's founder, aimed at preventing division of the faith into sects and denominations.
26 Nov
(Thu)
Thanksgiving Day (US)
Annual public holiday in the USA giving thanks, traditionally to God, for the things one has at the end of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. On Thanksgiving Day, families and friends usually gather for a large meal, usually featuring turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, Indian corn, other fall vegetables, and pumpkin pie. In New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held annually on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The parade features parade floats with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching bands.
27 Nov
(Fri)
Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
Major festival marking the end of the annual Hajj. Pilgrims sacrifice animals at the village of Mina on their way back to Mecca from Mount Arafat (where they have spent the first day of the festival) in commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal if they can afford it. The meat is distributed amongst the poor and some is shared with relatives and friends.
28 Nov
(Sat)
Anniversary of the Passing of Abdu'l-Baha
Bahá'í holy day on which members of the faith commemorate the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son and successor of Baha'u'llah. Bahá'ís observe the holy day of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha at 1:00 a.m., about the time of his death. There are no prescribed ceremonies but gatherings usually involve prayers and devotional readings.
29 Nov
(Sun)
Advent Sunday
Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas. In the Western Church, Advent begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas and marks the beginning of the Christian year. Advent Sunday is often celebrated by lighting the first candle in an advent crown, a further three candles being lit on successive Sundays, culminating with the Christmas candle on Christmas Day.
