What’s happening in November? Here at the Almanac, we think of November as the month of food, when the best of cooks can shine and the best of eaters will surely get their fill ahead of winter. Here’s what November brings—from weather forecasts to folklore!
And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,
No longer blown hither and thither;
The last lone aster is gone;
The flowers of the witch-hazel wither …
–Robert Frost (1874-1963)
The Month of November
November, the 11th month of the year, has 30 days and marks the beginning of the winter holiday season for most folks, even if the winter solstice doesn’t occur until late December.
We’ve made this month, named for the ninth (novem) month in the early Roman calendar, into a social time of community suppers, feasts of thanksgiving, and general elections.
November Calendar
- November 1 at 2 A.M. is the end of Daylight Saving Time. Set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night at bedtime! See more about DST.
- November 1 is also All Saints’ Day.
- November 3 is Election Day (U.S.). Don’t forget to vote in state and federal elections! Every vote counts. Make an Election Day Cake to celebrate.
- November 3 is also Sadie Hawkins Day.
- November 4 is Will Rogers Day.
- November 11 is Veterans Day (U.S.) and Remembrance Day (Canada).
- If you’re fortunate, you may experience an “Indian Summer” in November; but according to the traditional definition, it can only occur between November 11 and 20! What is an Indian Summer?
- November 14 is Diwali, which is an annual festival of lights celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
- November 19 is Discovery of Puerto Rico Day.
- November 26 is Thanksgiving Day (U.S.). Understand the history and origins of Thanksgiving.
- November 29 is the First Sunday of Advent.
“Just for Fun” Dates in November
November is Banana Pudding Lovers Month—who knew? Here are some more wacky celebrations to look forward to:
- Nov. 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day
- Nov. 3: Zero-Tasking Day
- Nov. 9: National Scrapple Day
- Nov. 16: National Button Day
- Nov. 21: World Hello Day
- Nov. 23: Fibonacci Day
November Moon & Astronomy
The Full Beaver Moon
November’s full Moon is traditionally called the Beaver Moon. Why this name? In the Colonial Era, this was the month to set one’s beaver traps before the swamps froze and beavers retired to their lodges, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.
In 2020, November’s full Moon occurs on Monday, November 30, at 4:30 A.M. EST. Read our November Moon page for more information!
Catch a Penumbral Eclipse
On the night of November 29-30, a penumbral eclipse will be visible from North America. Appropriately filtered telescopes or binoculars are necessary for eye-safe viewing. The Moon will enter the penumbra at 2:30 A.M. EST on November 30 (11:30 P.M. PST on November 29) and leave the penumbra at 6:56 A.M. EST (3:56 A.M. PST) on November 30.
November Weather
According to weather folklore, a heavy November snow will last until April.
See our predictions for November and check out our 2021 Winter Forecast!
November Weather Folklore
- If there’s ice in November that will bear a duck, There’ll be nothing after but sludge and muck.
- November take flail; let ships no more sail.
- If trees show buds in November, the winter will last until May.
- There is no better month in the year to cut wood than November.
- Ice in November brings mud in December.
- A heavy November snow will last until April.
Recipes for the Season
It’s time to start thinking about holiday preparations—for Thanksgiving and beyond!
Consult our collection of Thanksgiving recipes—from the big bird to stuffing to deserving side dishes to desserts!
You may also enjoy these make-ahead Thanksgiving recipes; they can be prepared ahead of the big feast day to save you some valuable last-minute cooking time.
If you’re serving turkey, here are tips on how to roast the bird.
Got leftovers? Try this Day-After-Turkey-Dinner Hash!
Learn more about Thanksgiving’s foods with these fun facts pages:
November Gardening
Use small stakes or markers where you’ve planted bulbs or late-starting plants in the perennial garden to avoid disturbing them when you begin spring soil preparation.
Check trees around your house for weak branches that should be removed by you now, rather than by snow and ice later.
If you’re in the midst of raking leaves, see our advice on how to use them in the garden.
See more gardening jobs for the month of November.
Did You Know: Autumn is the best time to prepare your yard properly for a healthy spring growth. It’s much easier to handle these tasks now! See our “10 Fall Cleanup Tips for a Better Spring Garden.”
November Birthstone
November’s traditional birthstone is the topaz, usually a yellow to amber color. The ancient Greeks believed that topaz could make a wearer invisible. A symbol of honor and strength, topaz was also believed to bring longevity and wisdom. Learn more about topaz—and November birthstones.
Credit: Tinai Images Shutterstock
Birth Flowers
November’s birth flower is the chrysanthemum. Generally, chrysanthemums represent cheerfulness. A red one conveys “I love you.” White symbolizes truth or pure love. A yellow one indicates slighted love. Learn more about the birth flower of November.
Everyday Advice
The holiday season is now upon us! Check out our Holiday Cooking and Cleaning Checklist
It’s also the start of cold and flu season. Here are natural cold remedies for your body and mind.
Stay warm with a cozy fire. See our Best Bets for Firewood.
Mercury Retrograde
Get ready! In 2019, Mercury will be in retrograde from October 31 to November 20. See more about Mercury Retrograde.
November Zodiac
November’s Zodiac Signs are:
- Scorpio: October 23 to November 22
- Sagittarius: November 23 to December 21
Reader Comments
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awesome
I love this site. I love the free newsletter too! Thank you! You are awesome!
folk lore
what does the color of caterpillars have to do with the winter weather?
any comments on salt? effects on salt during cold weather? moisture? wives tails? ;}
weather lore
As to the color of caterpillars, you might be interested in the folklore of the woolly worm, whose brown and black bands are said to predict the coming winter’s severity: http://www.almanac.com/content/woolly-bear-caterpillars-and-weather-pred...
As to salt, weather lore says that it increases in weight before a shower. There is also a similar excerpt in an old weather lore book that says: “A farmer’s wife says when her cheese salt is soft, it will rain; when getting dry, fair weather may be expected.”
Hope this helps!
Surgery
Which days in November, December or January are best for shoulder surgery?
What is the best day where
What is the best day where moving to our new house this coming December? Please help me, thank you and more power!
Moving house during a waning
Moving house during a waning moon is said to be good luck.
If I weaned my foal on
If I weaned my foal on November 16th how long should I wait to turn her out into the pasture freely with her mom.. Assuming that I do not want her to feed off her mom.. I was planning on waiting 30 days but was seeing if there was a magic date and time! Thank you in advance!
What are the best days in
What are the best days in November to paint so that it will stay?
When is the best day for
When is the best day for hunting deer for November 8th through November 30th for modern gun
My daughter is having her
My daughter is having her wisdom teeth removed November 10 and I was wondering if this is going to be a good day for that ?
What are the best days in
What are the best days in November 2014 to get your hair cut to encourage hair growth? I have accidently given away my 2014 almanac.
many thanks,
Shiela M Jarvis
The best days for November
The best days for November and December 2014 can be found here: almanac.com/bestdays/timetable
A full year of 2015 best days are in The 2015 Old Farmer's Almanac!
I have to have a third much
I have to have a third much more intensive hip surgery this month of November. I am a cancer and have misplaced my almanac for this year. I see the surgeon on the 11th and I need a good date to give to him for my surgery. Thank you in advance.
This site is awesome :-)
This site is awesome :-)
When is the best time to go
When is the best time to go to The Virgin Islands. I'm looking for temperatures70-80 and no type of storm( no tornados or hurricanes etc) Thank you