Every year right after Oct. 31, family households, shopping centers, and classrooms alike all begin to take down the pumpkin carvings and ghoulish decorations and replace them with festive turkeys in hats and scenes of pilgrim and Native Americans. And, while Thanksgiving is an important and widely celebrated and appreciated holiday, Americans often overlook the other things the great 11th month of the year represents. I’ve compiled a list of my five favorite symbols of November:
1. Thanksgiving
The traditional holiday, set on the last Thursday of November, can often times be seen as over rated. However, no matter how you celebrate, Thanksgiving is, along with celebrating American heritage, a perfect excuse for individuals and families to slow down, come together, and remember the things in their lives they are thankful for – most importantly each other. The day is also known as “National Cheat Day”… aka, eat as many mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and turkey as your heart, and stomach, desires.
2. National Peanut Butter Lovers Month
I stumbled across this a little over a year ago, and I’ve been so excited to share- and celebrate it – ever since. November is nationally observed as an entire month dedicated to one of the universe’s most perfect creations – peanut butter. Celebrate the delicious nutty substance any way you please this month, whether it be creamy or chunky, Skippy or Jif, and whether it with jelly or Nutella. Peanut butter lovers, divulge your selves.
3. Black Friday
Black Friday, observed the day after Thanksgiving, November 27th, comes with a ton of hype and frenzy surrounding it. Retail stores, restaurants, and Mom-and-Pop shops all open their doors at the crack of dawn (or even before) to a surge of eager bargain-crazed shoppers, desperate to find the best deals and sales before Hannukah and Christmas shopping begins. I had the pleasure to partake in Black Friday a few years ago and was nearly crushed to death early outside an Urban Outfitters. Needless to say, this holiday isn’t necessarily for everyone – but for the brave-hearted and early risers, this one’s definitely for you.
4. Veteran's Day
Veteran’s Day is a time for the individuals of our nation to reflect upon and honor the valiant members of our national armed forces whom served us, protected our country, and in some instances made the ultimate sacrifice. While this day isn’t necessarily a “celebration”, it is a huge commemoration to the men and women whom do more than many of us dream of doing each and every day and an important part of November and of the year.
5. National Sleep Comfort Month
My favorite and the last of November’s tidings comes this gem of awareness. National Sleep Comfort Month reminds us all to get good night’s sleep and maybe even let our bodies sleep in a few extra hours during this month, or try to reset your sleep schedule all together (if you’re a college student like me, you definitely need this as much as I do). Celebrate National Sleep Comfort Month with less regard for your alarm and much appraisal for your snooze button.
So, if you’re ever feeling down during November, or just want an excuse to celebrate, please refer back to these five reasons to celebrate during November -- have some turkey and peanut butter, do some high-stakes bargain shopping, honor our Veterans, and sleep in as long as you want. Happy November!
