Monday, November 2, 2015

Offbeat Holidays in November



Perhaps Halloween is the final day in October to prepare people for the wild and whacky holidays in November. No, I’m not talking about the U.S. observance of Thanksgiving, although it’s one of my favorites. One year we went to visit friends in Canada for Thanksgiving, an October event.  


We celebrated Halloween by splitting this delicious chocolate cupcake. It was certainly big enough!
 








Sadie Hawkins Day takes place on the first Saturday in November. It became a popular event thanks to Li’l Abner. Hekzebiah Hawkins challenged the men in the backwoods cartoon town of Dogpatch to a race. If his daughter Sadie caught one of them, he had to marry her. The idea caught on in real life, giving women the opportunity to ask men to dance.
ABC TV special of Li'l Abner

 











November 6th honors the incredible invention of the saxophone. Adolphe Sax was an honored craftsman of instruments. He presented the saxophone in 1846 and added a new level of sound to the world of music.






 Veteran's Day is celebrated November 11th.



World Kindness Day was founded in 1998. It is celebrated on November 13th and encourages each of us to something nice for friends, family, neighbors, or strangers, just because there is a bit of niceness in everyone.

Plan ahead! The 15th is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. In one relative’s family, they celebrate left-over Thursday, a weekly event to clean the refrigerator. 

November 19th is International Men’s Day. Treat someone special to a card, small gift, or dinner. 

Honor the National Day of Listening on November 23rd by thanking someone who cares for others. It could be a teacher, a volunteer at the senior center, homeless shelter, VA hospital, or perhaps someone who has no one left to talk to. And YES. There are a number of people who are alone. It may even be someone whose family is more tuned into X-Box, iPhones, and Smartphones than mom or dad.



I’ve always been entranced by the planet Mars. Red Planet Day is celebrated on November 28th. Wear a splash of red to celebrate our next door neighbor, just one planet further from the sun.











Here are a few of the scenes Mother Nature produced to welcome November. 



I was really impressed by the distortions in this cloud. It was being ripped apart by the wind.





 What traditional and offbeat holidays do you celebrate in November?

27 comments:

  1. I was thinking about cleaning out my fridge later today, actually, but now I think I'll just hold off until the 15th ;)

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    1. Just don't tell the family I said it was okay.

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  2. I had no idea National Day of Listening was this month. I will definitely try to listen to someone who has no one else to be that shoulder to lean on.

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    1. That is a very kind way of looking at it. I am going to do the same.

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  3. I love the idea of celebrating Halloween with a big fat cupcake. I've never heard of National Day of Listening before.

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    1. The cupcake was so good! The listening day sounds like a friendly thing to do.

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  4. Awesome post about each day! Lots of info and things I did not know before! That cupcake looks delicious!!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by. It's nice to have new things to celebrate.

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  5. So interesting! I had no idea there were all these different holidays!

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    1. I might try making a craft for one of the holidays. It would be fun and just a bit different.

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  6. Oh wow there is actually a lot going on this month. I may have to ignore the 15th though!

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    1. My mom used to tell us anything in the refrigerator could be used to make dinner. We cleaned it without realizing it was work!

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  7. Tjanks for sharing all of these days. I think I will do something for kindness day.

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    1. It's a chance to lift someone's spirits. Enjoy November.

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  8. We certainly observe Veterans Day. Fun fact, it used to be Armistice Day. Learned that a few years go.

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  9. How interesting. I only know of Remembrance day here in Canada (veterans day) I had no idea there was anything else to celebrate in November! - Jeanine

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    1. I'm always amazed to find out how many things have a special day. It's good that we honor all of our troops.

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  10. I have to say you've shared several holidays or special days I had not heard of! I always love knowing about these. I'm sure there are national food days as well since there seem to be a million of them. In fact, let's see....too many to list here but you might enjoy this resource: http://foodimentary.com/november-holidays/ It lists all of the food days by date and month.

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    1. What a great site! November 6 has to be a great day, since it honors Nachos.

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  11. I will now be observing World Kindness Day all because of you. This was an awesome post and I love the beautiful photos at the end.

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    1. I get the feeling you are kind year-round. Someone will benefit from that extra bit of niceness. :)

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  12. I did not know that the 15th is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. I like your idea to have leftover Thursday to clean it out once a week.

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  13. When I was in school, we had a Sadie Hawkins Dance every year! That is how I remembered that date!

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  14. Nov 28th we'll wear red. We are studying the planets now (homework for my son's school) so that will tie in nicely.

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  15. I remember attending Sadie Hawkins dances! I love how clean our your fridge day comes before Thanksgiving :)

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  16. I guess Bill Clinton will be celebrating November 6th. He does play the saxophone, right? And maybe Kenny G?

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