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In this article, Madison Heth explores some of November's oddest national days and includes a brief history on them as well.
The Oddest November National Days
The Oddest November National Days
By Madison Heth
November, oh sweet November. A month full of…well, not much, besides the famous Thanksgiving, which might I add, practically happens closer to December. Think about it: this year, Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 24, which is practically December. Despite that fact, November is filled with basically nothing exciting. What fun can be had in a month of nothing? For the majority of the month, there are no holidays or special days…or maybe there are special days that you just don’t know about? Believe it or not, November is filled with some of the oddest national days. Here, I am going to give you a complete guide to the five oddest and most entertaining national days in November. Who knows, maybe knowing about these national days will help make your November to be more exciting, just maybe.
National Cinnamon Day, Nov. 1.
To start the month out, Nov. 1 is National Cinnamon Day! Yes, for those of you who crave that spicy yet sweet flavor, this is the day for you! Cinnamon was one of the very first spices to be used. In fact, one of the main uses of cinnamon is for medical purposes, including cough drops. According to journalists with the health information site Medical News Today the use of cinnamon for medical reasons tracks back all the way to 2000 B.C. in ancient Egypt. Cinnamon also has many uses because of its well-known flavor and smell. A lot of the time, cinnamon is used for cooking. Other times, it is used for its scent in candles and air fresheners or even for holiday decoration. According to the McCormick Science Institute, because cinnamon was one of the first spices sought in fifteenth century Europe, some say it indirectly led to the discovery of America. In modern times, one of the key places of cinnamon production is in Sri Lanka, an island nation located in the Indian Ocean. National Cinnamon Day is the perfect time to make delicious cinnamon rolls and eat cinnamon flavored candies. You can even light a cinnamon apple candle in celebration. You know what? Even pull out your cinnamon toothpaste if you are one of those absolutely insanely crazy and honestly quite terrifying people that use cinnamon toothpaste. Yuck!
National Seatbelt Day, Nov. 14.
Seatbelts are something everybody uses on a daily basis, at least people better be using a seatbelt! Despite whether you use a seatbelt or not (which you should always wear one) seatbelts deserve more recognition than they get. Seatbelts are an ancient invention. In fact, the first idea for a seatbelt was discussed by George Cayley, an English inventor. The first product resembling a seatbelt was created in 1885. The invention was a harness with the purpose of keeping a person attached to a large object, for example a tree. However, it was in 1959 that an engineer named Nils Bohlin created the more modernly recognizable seatbelt, which is used in cars today. Seatbelts are extremely effective in saving lives. In a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, 47 percent of passenger fatalities were from not using seatbelts. On Nov. 14, make sure you take time to appreciate your seatbelts.
National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, Nov. 15.
Refrigerators can get very messy, very easily. But, hey, own it! Messy refrigerators rock. Now, a national day for cleaning refrigerators does seem odd, but sometimes a reminder is good. Why not make it a national day! The national day does not have an exact known origin. However, some say it was made as a reminder to clean out refrigerators before the big holidays. According to Manan Kaur with the Indian Times, “studies show that illnesses caused by food are mostly because of dirty refrigerators.” Refrigerators can become breeding grounds for bacteria, so keeping them clean is important for human health and preserving your food. On Nov. 15, take the time to clean your refrigerator.
National You’re Welcome-Giving Day, day after Thanksgiving in Nov.
Thanksgiving Day is always on the fourth Thursday of Nov. and, on this day, it is time to be thankful and give thanks, but what is the opposite of saying thank you? Saying you are welcome! That is where we get National You’re Welcome-giving Day, which happens on the day after Thanksgiving. Saying “You’re Welcome” is a phrase most English speakers use, and the phrase is used mostly as a way to show kindness and appreciation. However, that is not always true when it comes to other languages. Believe it or not, the phrase “You’re Welcome” is for the most part only used in the English language. In fact, some languages are unaware of the phrase and others even find it rude. According to writers with the National Day Calendar, the word “you”, both singular and plural, in many languages means that you are a part of the problem, making the phrase limited to only English usage. Saying “You’re Welcome” is a very polite thing to do, but just be careful if you are saying it to other languages.
National Pie in the Face Day, Nov. 27.
Has someone ever made you so mad that you wished you could shove some glorious pie in their face? Well, perfect for you! National Pie in the Face Day is just around the corner. On Nov. 27, you can shove pie in anyone's face and have a perfect excuse for it. However, the question is, why was a national day for putting pie in someone's face created? Besides plenty of videos on YouTube of people “pieing” their friends (and potentially enemies) in the face, the evolution of pieing people is not just a way to release anger but also a method of comedic relief. According to a writing by the online culture magazine Hopes & Fears, the first pie-in-the-face in movie history was in the film Mr. Flip by Gilbert M. Anderson in 1909. Now, social media influencers have taken the idea of “pie-in-the-face” as a perfect way to gain views, and get back at their friends. Getting a pie to the face is not something that everyone would consider to be pleasant. Still, if you want to have a good laugh with some friends (provided they do not freak out and pie you in the face right back) then maybe Pie in the Face Day can be a fun way to spend your November.
November may not seem to have very many exciting events but, after reading this article, you now have some ideas on how to spend your November right!
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