Festivals in November 2024: Celebrations Across the World

November is a month that’s coloured with culture and celebrations all across the world. As we approach November 2024, people all over the globe come together to celebrate different festivals in different regions. However, one fact remains the same. Everyone’s looking forward to celebrating these festivals in November with their families.

There are a lot of different cultures around the world, so it’s a given that the theme for these festivals would vary to a great extent. Some of the most famous festivals that will be celebrated in November are Thanksgiving, Diwali, and Gurpurab. Thanksgiving is celebrated in many parts of the world. Its theme is to express gratitude for a great harvest. As for Diwali, it is a spiritual festival based on Indian mythology. This just shows the diversity of the festivals in November.

All of these festivals gather large crowds that celebrate the occasion together, promoting unity and love throughout the community.

Largest Festivals in November 2024

Due to the diversity of cultures, there are a lot of festivals that occur in the month of November. Thus, talking about all of them in one article is not possible. However, we’ve mentioned some of the largest festivals that you can enjoy in the early winters.

Diwali: The Festival of Lights

Diwali Celebration in November
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Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the biggest Hindu celebrations held worldwide. In the year 2024, Diwali will be celebrated on the 1st of November. It’s a five-day festival to commemorate the triumph of light over darkness, righteousness over wrongdoing, and knowledge against ignorance. The most important ritual is, however, the lighting of oil lamps or diyas that represent the light that eliminates ignorance and evil.

Diwali is an Indian festival celebrated by Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities worldwide. People meet to pray, give each other presents, eat sweets, and spark fireworks. They decorate their homes with floral designs called rangoli and candles. Diwali is one of the largest festivals in November, and it has considerable religious significance as well as cultural importance.

Thanksgiving: A Festival of Gratitude

This particular festival is one of the most celebrated festivals in the United States of America in November. Thanksgiving will be observed on November 28, 2024. It is a day that people celebrate to express their gratitude for the things they have received in the past year. It was started by the early settlers, who had a harvest feast with the native Indians as a great symbol of togetherness and thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is now more of a family affair and a time to reflect on the things you appreciate in your life. People also look back on the times that have passed and express their gratitude for the good times. The prayer follows with a hearty meal. The common dinner consists of turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry, and pumpkin pie. Many people also use this holiday to give back to society by providing food to the needy. Thanksgiving has evolved from being a harvest festival to a festival of unity and gratitude.

Guru Nanak Gurpurab: Honouring the Sikh Guru

Guru Nanak Gurpurab is celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It is one of the most important festivals of Sikhs. It will be observed on November 15 this year. The first event of the day is Prabhat Pheris, early morning processions, in which devotees sing and chant the glory of the Guru. In Gurdwaras, the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, is recited and religious songs are sung.

The members of the Sikh community meet to share food at a communal meal known as langar. This meal shows that there is no distinction between the rich and the poor, the provider and the receiver. Guru Nanak’s message of harmony, non-aggression, and compassion is propagated on this day.

Bonfire Night: Remembering History

Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is celebrated on November 5 in the United Kingdom. This festival dates back to 1605 when a band of plotters tried to blow up the Parliament. Since then, people in the UK have marked it by lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks.

Bonfire Night has evolved into a family-friendly occasion, with people lighting fireworks and burning statues of Guy Fawkes. This is a night for remembering history, celebrating British democracy, and having fun at the same time.

Loy Krathong: A Festival of Water and Light

Festivals in November
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Loy Krathong is celebrated in Thailand during the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, coming in November. It will be observed on November 15 in the year 2024. The festival is a form of worship and also to seek forgiveness from the water deity for polluting water. It also is the time when everyone wishes for good luck in the new year to come. During Loy Krathong, people make small boats out of banana leaves, flowers, and candles and set them afloat on rivers, lakes, or seas. It is a beautiful experience to see so many floating lanterns released onto the water. Loy Krathong is a lovely celebration that reminds everyone about the relationship between humans and the environment we live in.

Other Notable Festivals in November 2024

  • All Saints’ Day: It will be observed on the 1st of November. This Christian holiday is dedicated to the worship of all saints, the venerated and the unrecognised.
  • St Andrew’s Day: It is the national day of Scotland and is celebrated on the 30th of November. It is celebrated with enormous feasts, beautiful dance performances, and music that depicts true Scottish culture, such as the use of bagpipes and ceilidh dancing.

Conclusion

November festivals are a great way to see people of different faiths and cultures come together. Whether it’s eating dinner on Thanksgiving, lighting a lamp during Diwali, or floating a candle in water during Loy Krathong in Thailand, each of them promote unity in a unique way.

FAQs

What are the major festivals celebrated in November 2024?

Some of the major festivals in November 2024 include Diwali (November 1), Thanksgiving (November 28), Guru Nanak Gurpurab (November 15), Bonfire Night (November 5), and Loy Krathong (November 15).

Which cultures celebrate Thanksgiving in November?

Thanksgiving is predominantly celebrated in the United States and Canada, although Canada celebrates it in October. It is a day to give thanks for the year’s blessings and share a meal with loved ones.

When will Diwali be celebrated in November 2024?

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, will be celebrated on November 1, 2024.

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