November facts for kids

November is the eleventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It has 30 days. Long ago, around 750 BC, November was actually the ninth month in the Roman calendar.

The name "November" comes from the Latin word novem, which means "nine." It kept this name even after January and February were added to the Roman calendar.

In the Southern Hemisphere, November is a month of late spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's late autumn. So, November in places like Australia feels like May in places like the United States.

In Ancient Rome, people celebrated events like Ludi Plebeii and Epulum Jovis in November. These old dates are different from our modern calendar. The Anglo-Saxons called November Blōtmōnaþ.

Space and Stars

November is a great time to spot meteor showers! These are like natural fireworks in the sky.

• The Andromedids can be seen from late September to early December, usually peaking around November 9–14.
• The Leonids light up the sky from November 15–20.
• The Alpha Monocerotids are visible from November 15–25, with a peak on November 21–22.
• You might also see the Northern Taurids (October to December) and the Southern Taurids (September to November).
• The Phoenicids appear from late November to early December.
• Sometimes, the Orionids from October can still be seen in early November.

Zodiac Signs

If you were born in November, your Western zodiac sign is either Scorpio (for those born before November 22) or Sagittarius (for those born on or after November 22).

Symbols of November

Chrysanthemum

Topaz crystal

Citrine gemstone

November's special birthstone is the topaz, especially the yellow kind. It stands for friendship. Another stone for November is the citrine. The birth flower for November is the beautiful chrysanthemum.

Special Days and Celebrations

Many different cultures and countries celebrate special days in November. Here are some of them:

Month-Long Events

• Academic Writing Month: A time for people to focus on writing.
• Movember: Men grow mustaches to raise awareness for men's health issues.
• National Novel Writing Month: People try to write a whole novel in one month!
• Trans History Month: A time to learn about transgender history.
• Dinovember: A fun, unofficial month where people pretend dinosaurs come to life at night.

In the United States

• Native American Heritage Month: A time to honor the history and culture of Native Americans.
• National Adoption Month: Raises awareness about adoption.
• Military Family Month: Recognizes the families of military members.

Dates That Change Each Year

Some observances in November don't fall on the same date every year.

• First Sunday: Daylight saving time ends in the United States and Canada. This means clocks go back one hour.
• Tuesday after the first Monday: Election Day (United States) is when Americans vote for their leaders.
• Second Sunday: Father's Day is celebrated in countries like Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
• Third Sunday: World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a day to remember people who have died or been injured in road accidents.
• Fourth Thursday: Thanksgiving (United States) is a big holiday in the US, where families gather to share a meal and give thanks.

Thanksgiving is celebrated in November

• Day after fourth Thursday: Black Friday is a huge shopping day with many sales.
• Monday after fourth Thursday: Cyber Monday is a big day for online shopping deals.

Fixed Dates

Many special days happen on the same date every November.

• November 1
  • All Saints' Day is a Christian holiday.
  • Day of the Dead (first day) is celebrated in Mexico to honor loved ones who have passed away.
  • World Vegan Day is a day to promote a vegan lifestyle.

A Vegan activist gives out baked goods for World Vegan Day

• November 2
  • All Souls' Day is another Christian holiday.
  • Day of the Dead (second day) continues in Mexico.
• November 3
  • Culture Day is a national holiday in Japan.
  • Independence Day (Dominica) and Independence Day (Micronesia) are celebrated.
• November 5
  • Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated in the United Kingdom with bonfires and fireworks.

Guy Fawkes Night fireworks. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated on November 5th in the United Kingdom.

• November 11
  • Veterans Day in the United States honors military veterans.
  • Remembrance Day in Canada and other countries remembers those who died in wars.
• November 13
  • World Kindness Day encourages people to be kind to each other.
• November 14
  • Children's Day is celebrated in India.
  • World Diabetes Day raises awareness about diabetes.
• November 19
  • International Men's Day celebrates men's health and positive male role models.
  • World Toilet Day raises awareness about sanitation.
• November 20
  • Children's Day is celebrated in many countries.
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance honors transgender people who have lost their lives to violence.
• November 23
  • Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan.
• November 24
  • Evolution Day celebrates the anniversary of Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species.
• November 25
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women raises awareness about violence against women.

The Miraculous Medal, whose design was created based on the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Catherine Labouré in Paris. In 1832, during an epidemic, the first medals were distributed, to which numerous healings and conversions were attributed, receiving the name of Miraculous Medal.

• November 30
  • St Andrews Day is a national holiday in Scotland.

See also

In Spanish: Noviembre para niños