“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
Dates of Significance for November 2015
** Please bear in mind that this is not meant to be an exhaustive list and there may be
diverse celebrations and religious dates that are not addressed.
* indicates observances that begin at sundown on the day prior to the date listed.
Suggested use:

Culturally responsive curriculum

Classroom community circle discussions

Newsletter inserts, web page information piece

Daily announcements

Classroom and/or school posters
Student research, assemblies, equity group information
November 1 - All Saints - Day (Roman Catholic, Anglican and Christian)
All Saints Day, the day on which Catholics celebrate all the saints, known and unknown, is a
surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of
saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the
persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order
to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honored. For more
information: http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/p/All_Saints_Day.htm
1
“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 2 - All Souls Day (Roman Catholic, Anglican and Christian)
All Souls' Day, in Christianity, is a day commemorating the faithful departed, particularly but
not exclusively one's relatives. In Western Christianity the annual celebration is now held on 2
November and is associated with All Saints' Day (1 November) and its vigil, Halloween (31
October). In the liturgical books of the western Catholic Church (the Latin Church) it is
called The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, and is celebrated annually on 2
November, even if this date falls on a Sunday; on this day Catholics pray for the
dead. In Anglicanism it is called Commemoration of All Faithful Departed and is an optional
celebration; Anglicans view All Souls' Day as an extension of the observance of All Saints' Day
and it serves to "remember those who have died", in connection with the theological doctrines
of the resurrection of the body and the Communion of Saints. In the Eastern Orthodox Church
and the associated Eastern Catholic Churches, it is celebrated several times during the year and
is not associated with the month of November. For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day
November 11 – Al-Hijra/Muharram – New Year last day (Islam)
The Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic ( Raʼs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah) is the day that marks the
beginning of a new Islamic calendar year, and is the day on which the year count is
incremented. The first day of the year is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month
in the Islamic calendar. The first Islamic year beginning in 622 AD during which the emigration
of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, known as the Hijra. For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_New_Year
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“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 11 - Remembrance Day (Canadian)
World War 1 came to an end at 11 o'clock on November 11, 1918 and special services have
been held on this day ever since the first one in 1919. This day was known as Armistice Day for
many years. In 1931 the Canadian Parliament changed the name to Remembrance Day and
November 11th is now a time to remember those who served Canada in past wars and also
those who sacrificed their lives in military service. For more information:
http://www.statutoryholidays.com/remembrance_day.php
Remembrance Day– Teacher resources:
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/information-for/educators
November 11 – Bandi Chhor Divas Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism)
Bandi Chorh Diwas is a day on which Guru Hargobind Sahib was released with 52 Kings from
Gwalior Prison. The word "Bandi" means "imprisoned", "Chhor" means "release" and "Divas"
means "day" and together "Bandi Chhor Divas" means Prisoner Release Day. It is celebrated
with great joy as it was a time when "right" prevailed over "wrong". The Mughals had held
many hundreds of prisoners who were effectively "political prisoners" and were otherwise
innocent leaders of their communities. They had been held without trial or any other legal
process; jailed by brute force; held against their wishes.
The Guru had found a way to get 52 of these innocent leaders released from the prison without
a battle. This was a long process as the Guru spent many years in custody. However, in the end
the unjust government of the day had to "give in" to the Guru's just demands. An unlikely
victory in a period of history when those in power were completely corrupt and injustice was
the order of the day. However, the Guru had found a positive way out of an otherwise very dark
situation. The lives of 52 local kings had been saved without a single shot and without a battle!
For more information: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bandi_Chhorh_Divas
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“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 11 – 15 – Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism)
Diwali (or Deepavali, the "festival of lights") is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn
(northern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The
festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness. The festival preparations and
rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides
with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian
calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November. For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
November 11 - 12 - Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bahá'í)
While Oct. 20th is recognized by Bahá'í’s as the birth of the founder of the religion, Siyyid 'Ali
Muhammad, on November 12 the birth of Mirza Husayn ' Ali (Baha'u'llah) is also recognized.
Baha'u'llah was known as the Great Divine Teacher and appeared soon after Bab. He was
interested in improving the lives of the entire human population. He encouraged education for
everyone and equality for the sexes. He told his followers to reach out to followers of all
religions in spirit and friendship. This is a day of great celebration for Bahai's around the world.
For more information: http://birth-of-baha-u-llah.123holiday.net/
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“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 15 – 21 Bullying Awareness and Prevention
The idea for a Bullying Awareness Week began with Canadian father and educator Bill Belsey.
Not long after he launched the educational web site www.bullying.org on February 16, 2000, he
was often asked to make presentations about bullying to media and in schools and
communities across Canada and around the world. Through the Web site and his travels, he
quickly realized that bullying was an issue that touches all people, directly or indirectly,
regardless of their age, gender, culture, religion or nationality. He also dreamed of a world
where bullying was no longer seen as a "normal part of growing up", and that prevention
through education and awareness was the key. He realized most people do want to "See
something done" about bullying.
Bullying Awareness Week is now spreading to other countries around the world.
www.bullyingawarenessweek.org is the "mother ship" for this movement and will endeavor to
share these international initiatives as they develop with resources in other languages as they
are produced. Check www.bullyingawarenessweek.org for updates. For more information:
http://www.bullying.org/
November 16 – International Day for Tolerance
In 1996, the UN General Assembly (by resolution 51/95) invited UN Member States to observe
the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November, with activities directed towards both
educational establishments and the wider public.
This action followed on the United Nations Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the UN
General Assembly in 1993 at the initiative of UNESCO, as outlined in the Declaration of
Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year.
The 2005 World Summit Outcome document (A/RES/60/1) furthered the commitment of Heads
of State and Government to advance human welfare, freedom and progress everywhere, as
well as to encourage tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures,
civilizations and peoples. For more information: http://www.un.org/en/events/toleranceday/
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“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place on November 20, 2015. Transgender Day of
Remembrance (TDoR) is a day to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of
transphobia, or the hatred or fear of transgender and gender non-conforming people, and acts
to bring attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community. The
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1998 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a
transgender graphic designer, columnist, and activist, to memorialize the murder of Rita Hester
in Allston, Massachusetts. Since its inception, TDoR has been held annually on 20 November,
and has slowly evolved from the web-based project started by Smith into an international day
of action. Typically, a TDoR memorial includes a reading of the names of those who lost their
lives during the previous year and may include other actions, such as candlelight vigils, art
shows, food drives, film screenings, and marches, among others. The Transgender Day of
Remembrance is the culmination of Transgender Awareness Week. For more information:
http://tdor.info/about-2/
November 23 – Holodomor Memorial Day
The Holodomor is the name given to the genocide by famine that occurred in Ukraine from
1932 to 1933. As many as 10 million Ukrainians perished as victims of a man-made famine
under Joseph Stalin’s regime, with 25,000 dying each day at the peak of the famine.
The name Holodomor is the Ukrainian word for "plague of hunger" or “death inflicted by
starvation” derived from two words, “holod” – starvation/famine and “moryty” – to inflict
death. Holodomor Memorial Day was introduced on February 18, 2009 as the first trisponsored Private Member's Bill of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. On April 9, 2009 the
Province of Ontario unanimously passed Bill 147 – The Holodomor Memorial Day Act, which
calls for the fourth Saturday in November to be a day of remembrance. The Ontario Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration was assigned responsibility for the administration of the Act on
October 28, 2009.
For more information: http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/citizenship/holodomor.shtml
http://www.holodomorct.org/history.html
*DDSB will recognize Holodomor Memorial Day on the third Friday of November.
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“People can only live fully by helping others to live…Cultures can only realize their further richness by
honouring other traditions… ~ Daisaku Ikeda
(Japanese Peace Advocate and Buddhist Leader)
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women (UN)
By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated
25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and
invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designed to
raise public awareness of the problem on that day.
Women's activists have marked 25 November as a day against violence since 1981. This date
came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the
Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).
On 20 December 1993 the General Assembly, by resolution 48/104, adopted the Declaration on
the Elimination of Violence against Women. For more information:
http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/index.shtml.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/news/vawd.html
November 29 – Advent (Christian)
The Advent season lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. At that time, the new
Christian year begins with the twelve-day celebration of Christmastide, which lasts from
Christmas Eve until Epiphany on January 6. (Advent begins on the Sunday that falls between
November 27th and December 3rd each year.)
Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews
1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom.
The church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting
and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s
past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this
basis they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the church, during
Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward
in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. For
more information: http://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html
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