November

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November is the eleventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. November retained its name (from the Latin novem meaning "nine") when January and February were added to the Roman calendar. The birthstone for November is either topaz or citrine and the birthflower is the chrysanthemum.

November begins in western tropical astrology with the sun in the sign of Scorpio (astrology) and ends in the sign of Sagittarius (astrology). Astronomically speaking, the sun actually begins in the constellation of Libra, passes through Scorpius from approximately the 24th through the 29th and ends in the constellation of Ophiuchus, which is the only zodiacal constellation that is not associated with an astrological sign.

Representation in poetry

A poem which is often told in schools in the United Kingdom is "No" by Thomas Hood, playing on how the name "November" can be extended to other phrases beginning with no. Hood's poem suggests that melancholy moods associated with this month.

Events in November

All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day), a Christian holy day, is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween. In Sweden the All Saints' official holiday takes place on the first Saturday of November.
In Ireland, November 1 is regarded as the first day of Winter.
November 1 is called November Day (Lá Samhna) in Celtic tradition and is thus named in the Irish Calendar, where the month is called Mí na Samhna.
In the pagan wheel of the year, November begins at or near Samhain in the northern hemisphere and Beltaine in the southern hemisphere.
In the Roman Catholic calendar, November 2 is All Souls Day. It is known in Mexico as el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and the whole month of November is especially dedicated to praying for the dead
Britain and New Zealand celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot, on November 5.
In Indonesia, November 10 is known as National Heroes Day
St. Martin's feast day (Martinmas) on November 11 was formerly considered the start of winter in some places in Europe
Remembrance Day is celebrated on November 11 in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. It is known as Veterans' Day is the United States.
In India, Children's Day is celebrated on November 14, the birthdate of first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak around November 17.
Discovery of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493.
Día de la Revolución, or Revolution Day, is celebrated in Mexico on November 20.
On 24th November each year, Lachit Divas is celebrated statewide in Assam, India, to commemorate the heroism of the great general Lachit Borphukan and the victory of the Assamese army over the Mughal army at the battle of Saraighat in 1671.
The United States and Puerto Rico observe Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.
For Western Christians, Advent usually begins on a Sunday during the last week of November.
Scotland celebrates St Andrews Day, its official national day, on 30 November. Since 2006 it has been an official bank holiday.

Month-long observances

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, National Novel Writing Month, Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, and National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

It's quite common for some males in Australia (especially in the city of Melbourne), and New Zealand to sport a moustache during the month of November. The custom being known as Movember (Movember is a portmanteau of the words 'Moustache' and 'November'.), and being a fundraising event for men's health issues. One's fashionable appearance often comes second to the calling of Movember. A similar observance in the United States, called Noshavember, involves a full beard as opposed to a mustache.

Movable events

First Tuesday

In Australia, the Melbourne Cup horse race is held annually on the first Tuesday in November.

Tuesday After the First Monday

In the United States, elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. They therefore fall between November 2 and November 8. In even numbered years, members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms, and about one third of the U.S. Senate are elected to six-year terms. The President of the United States is elected in years divisible by four. Most U.S. states, counties, and municipalities have some part of their election cycle coincident with this date.

Third Thursday

The Great American Smokeout sponsored by the American Cancer Society occurs on the third Thursday of November, one week before Thanksgiving. Smokers are encouraged to quit smoking for these 24 hours, in hopes that they will quit forever.

Fourth Thursday in the USA

Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.

The day after Thanksgiving in the USA

A famous day for shopping known as "Black Friday."

Monday immediately following Thanksgiving Day in the USA

Cyber Monday

Other names

In Bulgarian, November is called Noemvri (Ноември).
In Croatian, November is called "Studeni" meaning "cold one"
In Finnish, November is called marraskuu, meaning "month of the dead".
In Italian, it's called Novembre.
In the old Japanese calendar, the month is called Shimotsuki (霜月), meaning "month of frost."
In Korean, it is called "Sip-il-weol" meaning the month number eleven
In Polish and Czech, November is called "Listopad", meaning "month of falling leaves".
The ancient Saxons called November "Wint-monat" (wind-month) due to heavy gales or "Blot-monat" (blood-month) due to sacrificing and slaughtering of cattle.
In Turkish, November is called "Kasım".
In the American South, November is known as the "month of the dog".
In Xhosa, November is called ngeyeNkanga, meaning "month of the small yellow daisies".

References

[af:November]]

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Last updated on Tuesday March 11, 2008 at 08:06:02 PDT (GMT -0700)
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