1 Nov
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
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
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.
5 Nov
Divali (Deepavali)
Also called Diwali or Deepavali, and often known as the "Festival of Lights", this major Hindu festival is a New Year festival lasting from one to five days. During the festival lamps are lit and fireworks set off. Various interpretations are given to the festival in different parts of India, but it is generally associated with Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity or with the victorious return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom of Ayodhya after their exile.
5 Nov
Divali
Jains celebrate Divali on the same day as Hindus and Sikhs. Although there are many similarities between the ways Jains and Hindus celebrate Divali (see Divali under Hindu festivals for details), Jains have a more ascetic approach to the celebration of Divali. The Jains celebrate Divali for three days. During this period, among the Shvetambaras, devoted Jains observe fasting and chant the Uttaradhyayan Sutra. The Jain New Year starts with Pratipada on the day following the first day of Divali.
5 Nov
Divali (Bandi Chhor Divas)
Divali is celebrated by Sikhs as the day when the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, was released from Gwalior prison. He refused to accept the release unless Emperor Jehangir also released 52 imprisoned Hindu princes at the same time. To mark the festival, the Golden Temple at Amritsar is illuminated and firework displays take place there. It is also a time for new clothes, presents and sweets.
11 Nov
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
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.
14 Nov
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.
14 - 18 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.
15 Nov
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.
21 Nov
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.
21 Nov
Anapasati Day/Kathina Day
Theravada Buddhist festival. Held at the end of Vassa, the three-month rainy season retreat for Theravada Buddhists, this is the last day on which a Kathina may be held. In order to hold a 'Kathina', a monastery must have had five monks in residence during the retreat period. Cloth is presented to the Sangha by Buddhist followers. Only monks who were present for the entire retreat are eligible to receive the cloth offered. The monks create a Kathina robe by sewing the pieces of donated cloth together and this is presented by the monks to one particular monk, often an especially deserving or virtuous one. It is a time of giving and a time when Buddhists show their gratitude to monks, bringing donations to temples.
24 Nov
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 Nov
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.
26 Nov
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.
27 Nov
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
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.
28 Nov
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.
