November
NOVEMBER 1ST - WORLD VEGAN DAY
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or poultry. Vegans, in addition to being vegetarian, do not use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products. People choose to be vegan for health, environmental, and/or ethical reasons. Many vegans choose this lifestyle to promote a more humane and caring world. World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans around the world every 1 November. The benefits of veganism for humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment are celebrated through activities such as setting up stalls, hosting potlucks, and planting memorial trees.
NOVEMBER 1ST - ALL SAINTS' DAY
All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is a feast day celebrated by Christians. It is an opportunity for believers to remember all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history.The following day is All Souls' Day and is a day for Christians to remember and pray for the souls of friends, family and members of their community who have died.
NOVEMBER 11TH - ARMISTICE DAY
Also known as Poppy Day or Remembrance Day, this commemorates the sacrifices that people have made in times of war, particularly members of our armed forces. A two-minute silence is observed to mark the end of World War I - at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice. There are also special services on Remembrance Sunday. What do we do to remember? Find out more here. Remembrance Sunday is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. It takes place on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day. A Service of Remembrance takes place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, and a wreath is laid by The Queen, the Prime Minister, and other important people. Why are poppies significant? Click here to find out.
NOVEMBER 13TH TO 17TH - ANTIBULLYING WEEK
The theme this year is All Different, All Equal. The idea is to help children and young people celebrate what makes them, and others, unique and help them understand why it’s important that every child feels included in school able to be themselves without fear of bullying. Click here to find out more.
NOVEMBER 14TH - WORLD DIABETES DAY
World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 in response to growing concerns about the rising number of people with diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007. The aim is to raise awareness of the condition and its effect on people's health. Click here to find out more.
NOVEMBER 17TH - CHILDREN IN NEED
Children in Need supports thousands of projects, working 365 days a year, all over the United Kingdom. Get involved to help make a difference to children and young people on your doorstep. Click here to visit the website, see what your favourite celebrities are doing to raise money and find loads of ideas. What can you do to help?
NOVEMBER 17TH - TAKEOVER DAY
The day gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. Children benefit from the opportunity to experience the world of work and make their voices heard, while adults and organisations gain a fresh perspective on what they do. The aim is to break down barriers between generations and encourage children's active involvement in their communities.
NOVEMBER 21ST - WORLD HELLO DAY
Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people. People around the world use World Hello Day as an opportunity to express their concern for world peace. A simple greeting sends a message to leaders, encouraging them to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts.
If you wanted to say hello to everyone on the planet, you would have to learn around 2,800 languages and greet at least 7,00,000,000 people.
NOVEMBER 19TH - WORLD TOILET DAYWorld Toilet Day is a day to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis – a topic often neglected and shrouded in taboos. Today, 4.5 billion people live without a household toilet that safely disposes of their waste. The Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2015, include a target to ensure everyone has access to a safely-managed household toilet by 2030. This makes sanitation central to eradicating extreme poverty. This year’s theme is wastewater: everyone’s poo should be contained, transported, treated and disposed of in a safe and sustainable way. Click here to find out more.
NOVEMBER 20TH TO 26TH - ROAD SAFETY WEEK
Road Safety Week is the UK's biggest road safety event, coordinated annually by Brake, the road safety charity. Road Safety Week aims to inspire thousands of schools, organisations and communities to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages during the Week and beyond. It also provides a focal point for professionals working in road safety to boost awareness and engagement in their work. The theme this year is Speed Down, Save Lives. Click here to find out more.
NOVEMBER 23RD - THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take the next day to make a four-day weekend, during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference. After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, they turned for help to neighbouring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition - not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination.
To this day, the Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion.
NOVEMBER 26TH - STIR UP SUNDAY
This is a traditional day for the making Christmas puddings. It is said to have come from the Collect (from the Book of Common Prayer 1549) for the Sunday before Advent: “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded…” Perhaps it was never intended literally, but the collect may have reminded people that Christmas was coming, and it was time to get on with the Christmas cakes and puddings so they could mature before the big day. Another tradition is for everyone to take a turn at stirring the mixture and to make a wish for the year ahead.
NOVEMBER 30TH - ST. ANDREW'S DAY
The day is a bank holiday in Scotland, celebrated in honour of the county's patron saint. Andrew and his brother Simon Peter were the first of Jesus' disciples. Andrew was arrested by the Romans for teaching people about Jesus, and crucified on an X-shaped cross. This is why the Scottish flag, the St. Andrew's saltire, bears a diagonal cross (the blue stands for the sky).
NOVEMBER 25TH TO DECEMBER 3RD - NATIONAL TREE WEEK
Started in 1975, National Tree Week is the UK's largest tree celebration annually launching the start of the winter tree-planting season. It is a great chance for communities to do something positive for their local treescape. Each year, Tree Council member organisations set up great events, inspiring upward of a quarter of a million people to get their hands dirty and together plant around million trees. Click here to find out more.
NOVEMBER 30TH - COMPUTER SECURITY DAY
These days, electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers make up an important component of our everyday lives. While communication has become easier and more efficient than ever before, these technological advancements have brought with them new concerns about privacy and security. This annual event, started in 1988, is observed worldwide to raise awareness of security issues. The aim is to remind people to protect their computers and the information that is stored on them.
