A November Feast Full of Holidays

Day 1

All Saints Day: Remember departed family members by visiting their grave sites.

Dia de Muertos (Mexico): Commemorate dead loved ones with an offering of marigolds.

National Adoption Day (US): Volunteer through Big Brothers Big Sisters (bbs.org).

First Day of Winter (Ireland): Button up your coat & carry an umbrella.  In Eire, it’s probably raining today.

Day 2

All Souls Day:  Tell your children about their ancestors;  join a genealogical web site (Ancestry.com).

World Vegan Day: Prepare a vegetarian pizza; make this a meatless Monday.

Day 3

Cultural Day (Japan): Write a haiku; check out a book on Japanese art.

Independence Day (Panama, Micronesia):  Baked ham with pineapples and yams make a wonderful feast.

Day 4

Day of Love (Egypt):  Meant not just for romantic lovers–hug friends and family members, letting them know how much they mean to you.

Victory Day (Italy): Italians note the end of World War I.

Day of People’s Unity & Feast of Our Lady of Kazan (Russia): Start reading Leo Tolstoy’s War & Peace or watch a video of Anton Chekov’s ”The Cherry Orchard”.

Day 5

Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night (UK):  Usually celebrated with fireworks and bonfires.  Traditional fare includes bonfire toffee, toffee-apples, baked or “jacket” potatoes, broiled fish, & black peas with vinegar.

Day 6

Death of King Gustavus Adolphus (Sweden): Read up on the father of modern warfare; today, Swedes enjoy a special pastry featuring a chocolate or marzipan medallion of the general.

Day 7

Day of the October Revolution (Russia):  The Soviets overthrew the Russian provisional government today. Are you still plowing through War and Peace?

Day 8

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and All the Bodiless Powers (Greek Orthodox Church): Greeks include a prayer to their guardian angel in their daily meditations. Since the word angel means “messenger”, share God’s love today.  A synaxis is a bringing together of a congregation in communion.

Day 9

World Freedom Day (20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall):  Read the United States “Declaration of Independence” or selections from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.

Day 10

Birthday of the US Marine Corps (US):  Play some John Phillip Sousa music, checking out “Stars and Stripes Forever” on You Tube.