November is considered harvest time and the beginning of the holiday season. A time to gather together, think about gifting, and enjoy the people around us. Keep reading for historical events and the background of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. Whether you’re commemorating personal milestones, exploring the past, or savoring the start of the holidays, November invites us to pause and give thanks. Cheers to November birthdays!
This Month in History
After a 66-day voyage from England, the Mayflower reached Cape Code in 1620.
- 1731 – Benjamin Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, America’s ‘oldest cultural institution.‘
- 1889 – Nellie Bly challenged Jules Verne’s, “Around the World in 80 days.” Ultimately, traveling around the world in 72 days.
The first Thanksgiving parade took place in Philadelphia in 1920.
- 1938 – Kate Smith introduced Irwin Berlin’s (revised) classic, “God Bless America.” The song was considered by many an anthem of hope and quickly became an American standard.
- 1966 – NASA astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin took the first selfie from space while on the Gemini XII mission.
- 1980 – The Voyager 1 spacecraft discovered the 15th moon orbiting planet Saturn.
- 1983 – President Ronald Reagan signed bill H.R. 3706 creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
- 1984 – NASA astronaut Anna Fisher became the first mother in space when she was part of the Space Shuttle Discovery mission, STS-51-A, to deploy and retrieve satellites.
History of Veterans Day
November 11th is set aside to honor America’s military and the day chosen for the commemoration dates back to the year 1919. During World War I, an armistice was signed between the Allied nations and Germany effectively ending the war. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the 11th of November as Armistice Day to commemorate “the war to end all wars.”
In 1938, Armistice Day became a national holiday to honor World War I veterans. Then sixteen years later, the word Armistice was amended to Veterans — after World War II and to commemorate all veterans. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day proclamation.
Thanksgiving
There was a time, across America, when two days were set aside to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thirty-two states celebrated Thanksgiving on the second to last Thursday of November while the other states celebrated it on the last Thursday of the month. It wasn’t until 1941 when a fixed-date was established.
In December 1941, the fourth Thursday in November was established as Thanksgiving Day. The resolution was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Today many around the world celebrate the occasion. This year, in the United States, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on November 27, 2025.