Days to Know: November 2021
The Touchstone Diversity Initiative presents November 2021 days to know and remember.
November is National Native American Heritage Month – Please visit the National Congress of American Indians’ website (https://www.ncai.org/
Month of the Holy Souls – The Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of November to praying in a special way for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The Holy Souls (also called the Faithful Departed) are members of the Church who await the purification of their souls before joining the saints in heaven for all eternity. Specifically, they are referred to as the Church Suffering (the saints in heaven are the Church Triumphant, and the faithful on earth are the Church Militant).The poor souls in purgatory cannot pray for themselves or do anything to hasten their entrance into heaven, but we can and ought to pray for them as an act of charity. The feast of the Holy Souls is November 2nd.
Diwali is November 4th – The Hindu Festival of Lights, this annual holiday is one of the largest festivals in the Hindu faith and occurs across five consecutive nights. More information can be found here: https://www.indiatoday.
Veterans Day is November 11th – This year’s Veteran’s Day remembers the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. More information is available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (https://www.va.gov/opa/
Transgender Day of Rememberance is November 20th – Transgender day of Rememberance is observed each year to honor transgender individuals who have lost their lives due to violence. More information can be found here: https://www.glaad.org/
Hanukkah begins on November 28th – The Jewish Festival of Lights, this annual holiday involves the traditional lighting of the menorah and occurs across eight consecutive nights. More information can be found here: https://www.