November Diversity Holidays

NOVEMBER 1

• All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday commemorating all known and unknown Christian saints (In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

NOVEMBER 1 - 2

• Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), a vibrant celebration observed in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans. It is a time when families and communities come together to honor and remember their loved ones who have passed away.

NOVEMBER 2

• All Souls’ Day, a Christian observance dedicated to honoring and praying for the souls of the faithful departed, particularly those who have not yet reached heaven.

NOVEMBER 5

• Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the founder of Sikhism.

NOVEMBER 7

• International Inuit Day, honors the history, culture, and contributions of the Inuit people. The Inuit are an Indigenous group whose communities span the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Russia.

NOVEMBER 8

• Indigenous Veterans Day, also known as National Aboriginal Veterans Day, honors the contributions of Indigenous peoples who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces.

NOVEMBER 9

• World Freedom Day, commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War and the liberation of Central and Eastern Europe from communism.

NOVEMBER 11

• Veterans Day, a US federal holiday honoring military veterans. The date is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world and commemorates the ending of World War I in 1918.

NOVEMBER 13 - 19

• Transgender Awareness Week, the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, in which people and organizations participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.

NOVEMBER 15 - DECEMBER 24

• Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus.

NOVEMBER 16

• Dutch American Heritage Day, recognizes the contributions made by people of Dutch ancestry to the United States.
• International Day for Tolerance, promotes respect for and appreciation of the world's many religions, languages, cultures, and ethnicities, and to recognize the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1996.

NOVEMBER 19

• Discovery of Puerto Rico Day, commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in Puerto Rico during his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.
• International Men’s Day emphasizes the important issues affecting males, including health issues that affect males, improving the relations between genders, highlighting the importance of male role models, and promoting gender equality. This holiday is celebrated in more than seventy countries.

NOVEMBER 20

• Transgender Day of Remembrance, established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia and to raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community.

NOVEMBER 21

• Presentation of Mary, also known as the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, commemorates the day when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was brought to the temple as a young child to be dedicated to God's service.

NOVEMBER 22

• Saint Cecilia Day, dedicated to St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. This day is marked by musicians and music lovers around the world with various festivities that honor the musical arts and celebrate the spiritual and transformative power of music.
• International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, a day of recognition and support for those who have lost loved ones to suicide, established by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
• National Adoption Day, raises awareness of the thousands of children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States.

NOVEMBER 24

• Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675), the ninth Sikh Guru and a poet, who was executed in Delhi on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. He is remembered for giving his life to protect the freedom to practice ones own religion.

NOVEMBER 25

• The Day of the Covenant, commemorates Bahá'u'lláh's appointment of his eldest son, Abdu'l-Bahá, as his successor and protector of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah.

NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 10

• 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a UN campaign that advocates for the elimination of gender-based violence and promotes actions that create safer communities, raise awareness, and support survivors.

NOVEMBER 27

• Thanksgiving Day, in the United States. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.

NOVEMBER 29

• Native American Heritage Day, held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, encourages Americans of all backgrounds to observe and honor Native Americans through appropriate ceremonies and activities. The day was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008.