Happy November! November Holidays and Observances 2023, From Thanksgiving to Diwali
November is officially here, and all of the feast planning (and everything else that goes with the Thanksgiving holiday) tend to take center stage for the month. That being said, before the majority of the frenzy begins, as a nation, we remember and celebrate Veterans Day to honor the military veterans. And of course, after Thanksgiving, many like to celebrate Black Friday with a day of shopping for all of the deals. However, did you know that out of all the days in November, there are more than triple that amount of celebratory observances to think about? We've got a huge list of all of the November holidays and observances in 2023!
Some of these other holidays are honoring an occupation or group of people. For instance, All Saints Day is celebrated to honor all of the saints of the church. Other observances are for disease awareness, such as Diabetic Eye Disease Month. And many of the rest are more offbeat and random like National Mason Jar Day or National Cook For Your Pets Day.
Besides the daily observances, there are also some observances that are celebrated either for a full week or an entire month. For instance, the National Hunger And Homeless Awareness Week occurs the entire week before Thanksgiving—the perfect timing to help us gain perspective and give back.
Since there are so many special days to consider for the month of November, we've put together a whole list of November Holidays and Observances for 2023 so that you can be in the know. Maybe you'll want to celebrate a few that you hadn't known about before.
Related: What is Thanksgiving? Here's Why We Celebrate
Who Comes Up With National Days and Observances?
While some holidays hold historic significance or are religious (some are both), there are so many random national days each year that you have to wonder who comes up with these and who is ultimately in charge of the list? If you love waffles and peanut butter, can you just call it out as a national day?
It is in fact almost as easy as that! A company or person can declare a day and it can take off on social media. However, there are sometimes more official ways to go about getting a national day approved, which is how they end up a universal thing on sites like National Day Calendar.
Some of the National Days for November may excite you—like National Donut Day or National Candy Day. Those are easy to celebrate. But others, like the National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, may pass by without a second thought. Whoever came up with that one must have needed a reminder to do it in a big way!
Related: Reader's Holiday Shortcuts For Entertaining
Are There Any Religious Holidays in November?
In 2023, the month of November has a couple of religious holidays. Starting right at the top of the month is All Saints Day. This starts on November 1 and is a Catholic holiday meant to honor holy men and women canonized as saints within the Church.
Also falling on Nov. 1, but starting the night before on Halloween (Oct. 31), is the pagan religious festival of Samhain. It's a pagan or Wiccan festival that has roots in the Celtic tradition and it marks the end of harvest season. It is the opposite of Beltane, Gaelic May Day. Samhain is all about ringing in "the dark half of the year," aka winter.
Then there's the religious Hindu holiday called Diwali. Since the dates of Diwali—known as the Festival of Lights—are based on the Hindu lunar calendar, they change from year to year. But in 2023, Diwali begins on November 12. India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year, the Festival of Lights is a celebration of the victory of good over evil and light over darkness and marks the beginning of the new year for some Hindu groups. During Diwali, Indians light clay lamps outside of their homes, symbolizing the inner light that protects their dwellings from the darkness. The five-day holiday is as important in the Hindu religion as Christmas is in Christianity. And much like Christmas, Indians celebrate with prayer, feasts, and family gatherings.
List of Monthly Observances For November
National Adoption Month
American Diabetes Month
Aviation History Month
Banana Pudding Lovers Month
Bereaved Siblings Month, Worldwide
Diabetic Eye Disease Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month
Eye Donation Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Inspirational Role Models Month
National Long-Term Care Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
Movember
National Memoir Writing Month
National Native-American Heritage Month
National Novel Writing Month
Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month
Picture Book Month
Prematurity Awareness Month
National Runaway Prevention Month
Vegan Month, Worldwide
Weekly Observances For November
National Fig Week (November 1-7)
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (November 5-11)
National Rad Tech Week (November 8-11)
World Kindness Week (November 13-17)
National Young Readers Week (November 13-17)
International Fraud Awareness Week (November 12-18)
National Nurse Practitioner Week (November 12-18)
Dear Santa Letter Week (November 5-11)
National Donor Sabbath (November 10-12)
National Hunger And Homeless Awareness Week (November 13-21)
Related: 17 Easy DIY Thanksgiving Crafts Ideas For Adults
November Daily Holidays and Observances
November 1
Author's Day
Autistics Speaking Day
National Biologics Coordinators Day
National Brush Day
National Calzone Day
National Cinnamon Day
National Cook For Your Pets Day
National Deep Fried Clams Day
National Family Literacy Day
National Stress Awareness Day
National Vinegar Day
All Saints' Day
Extra Mile Day
Prime Meridian Day
Samhain
Day of the Dead
Related: 15 Best Día de los Muertos Traditions To Help Honor Loved Ones
November 2
Day of the Dead
All Souls' Day
National Cash Back Day
National Deviled Egg Day
National Men Make Dinner Day
Related: What Exactly Are Ofrendas, and How Are They Related to Día de Los Muertos?
November 3
National Sandwich Day
National Homemaker Day
National Housewife’s Day
National Jersey Friday
World Jellyfish Day
One Health Day
November 4
National Candy Day
National Chicken Lady Day
National Play Outside Day
National Bison Day
November 5
World Tsunami Awareness Day
American Football Day
National Love Your Red Hair Day
National Donut Day
Daylight Savings Time Ends
November 6
National Nachos Day
Saxophone Day
Job Action Day
November 7
National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day
Color The World Orange Day
National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day
International Merlot Day
Election Day
National Cancer Awareness Day
November 8
National STEM/STEAM Day
National Cappuccino Day
National Parents as Teachers Day
Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day
Talk Money Day
World Pianist Day
November 9
World Freedom Day
Go to an Art Museum Day
National Scrapple Day
Chaos Never Dies Day
National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day
November 10
Area Code Day
Forget Me Not Day
Marine Corps Birthday
National Forget Me Not Day
National Vanilla Cupcake Day
Sesame Street Day
November 11
Veterans Day
National Metal Day
National Origami Day
National Sundae Day
November 12
National Happy Hour Day
National Chicken Soup For The Soul Day
National French Dip Day
American Fancy Rat & Mouse Day
Diwali
International Tongue Twister Day
National Happy Hour Day
November 13
Sadie Hawkins Day
World Kindness Day
National Hug a Musician Day
World Orphans Day
November 14
National Pickle Day
National Family PJ Day
National Seat Belt Day
International Girls Day
Loosen Up Lighten Up Day
National American Teddy Bear Day
World Diabetes Day
November 15
America Recycles Day
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day
National Philanthropy Day
I Love to Write Day
National Bundt Day
National Drummer Day
Pack Your Mom's Lunch Day
Steve Irwin Day
November 16
Clarinet Day
Have a Party with your Bear Day
National Button Day
National Fast Food Day
World Philosophy Day
National Rural Health Day
World Pancreatic Cancer Day
November 17
Guinness World Records Day
National Take A Hike Day
National Homemade Bread Day
National Unfriend Day
World Prematurity Day
Substitute Educator Day
November 18
Apple Cider Day
Family Volunteer Day
National Princess Day
Mickey Mouse Day
Mickey and Minnie Mouse's Birthday
National Adoption Day
Occult Day
November 19
National Play Monopoly Day
National Camp Day
National Macchiato Day
International Men's Day
National Have A Bad Day Day
Women Entrepreneurs Day
World Toilet Day
November 20
Future Teachers of America Day
National Absurdity Day
Universal Children's Day
National Peanut Butter Fudge Day
Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 21
National Red Mitten Day
World Television Day
National Stuffing Day
National Entrepreneur's Day
National Gingerbread Cookie Day
World Fisheries Day
World Hello Day
November 22
DrinksGiving
Go For A Ride Day
National Cranberry Relish Day
Humane Society Anniversary Day
Love Your Freckles Day
National Jukebox Day
November 23
Thanksgiving
Eat a Cranberry Day
National Espresso Day
National Cashew Day
National Jukebox Day
National Day Of Mourning
National Family Health History Day
Thankful For My Dog Day
November 24
Black Friday
Buy Nothing Day
Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
Day of Listening
Native American Heritage Day
You’re Welcomegiving Day
November 25
National Play Day With Dad
National Parfait Day
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Blasé Day
Small Business Saturday
November 26
Good Grief Day
International Cake Day
November 27
Cyber Monday
National Bavarian Cream Pie Day
National Craft Jerky Day
Pins and Needles Day
Turtle Adoption Day
November 28
Giving Tuesday
National French Toast Day
November 29
Chadwick Boseman Day
Electronic Greetings Day
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
National Lemon Cream Pie Day
Square Dancing Day
Throw Out Your Leftovers Day
November 30
International Computer Security Day
National Mason Jar Day
National Personal Space Day
National Mousse Day
Native Women's Equal Pay Day
National Stay at Home Because You're Well Day
Related: 10 Must-Haves To Host A Top-Notch Friendsgiving
Some Facts To Know About Some Of The November Holidays And Observances 2023
Daylight Savings Time ends on November 5, 2023, and is when we move our clocks back one hour, which means it gets light earlier each morning and dark earlier each night.
Movember is when men grow out their facial hair for the entire month of November to raise awareness for cancer.
Sadie Hawkins Day occurs on November 13 and is an American folk event and pseudo-holiday originated by Al Capp's classic hillbilly comic strip Li'l Abner (1934–1978).
Native American Heritage Day (November 24) is when indigenous people in America are given special honor with their cultures, accomplishments, contributions and heritage celebrated.
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 because it was on this day at 11:00 am that World War I ended in 1918.
The first Thanksgiving lasted for three days and was not proclaimed a holiday until 1777.
Next up, the best fall candles to bring coziness to your home.
