Brake, the road safety charity, coordinates Road Safety Week. It encourages people to get involved through their schools, colleges, employers, community groups, authorities, and emergency services to educate the population on how to create safer streets and reduce deaths and casualties on the road. Road Safety Week is the United Kingdom's key road safety event.

Africa

Nov

Bible, Intl. Day of: November 24

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International Day of the Bible is a time to share the Bible with the interfaith community and attend Bible-focused events, plays, and concerts. Across the world, Christian communities pause at noon local time to ponder and share The Word. Annually in November.

Africa

Nov

Brunette Pride Day: November 24

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Brownielocks Day or Brunette Pride Day encourages brunettes to take pride in their natural hair color. It falls on the anniversary of event documentation company Brownielocks buying their URL in 1999. On this day, brunettes celebrate by wearing brown. Brownielocks Day is also the time to appreciate brunettes in your life by hugging them or compliment their nnatural hair color.

Africa

Nov

Donate Life Thank You Day (AU): November 17

06:20 AM | -

THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ORGAN DONOR

Donate Life Thank You Day is held annually on November's third (sometimes fourth) Sunday. Nearly 900,000, or two-thirds of South Australians over 16, are on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Around 1,400 Australians and their families are waiting for a transplant, with 12,000 people on dialysis.

Sixty-five percent of Australians have discussed organ donation with their family, and 69 percent are willing to donate, but only 33 percent of adults nationwide have joined the Register. Last year, organ donation proceeded in 91 percent of cases in Australia where the deceased was a registered donor. Organ donation drops to 52 percent if the deceased was not registered and the family had no prior knowledge of their wishes.

Transplant recipients can express their appreciation by writing to their donor's family via their transplant unit. DonateLife de-identifies such correspondence and then provides it to the donor family.

Africa

Nov

Gurgadi (S)(1675): November 24

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Guru Gobind Singh Sahib became a guru on this day in 1675.

Africa

Nov

Martyrdom Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (S)(1675): November 24

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Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib considered the 'Protector of Humanity' in the Sikh faith, was laid to rest on this day in 1675.

Africa

Nov

Parkash Guru Nanak Sahib (S): November 24

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Parkash Guru Nanak Sahib is a prominent Sikh festival marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He was the founding Guru of Sikhism and was born on April 15, 1469, and September 22, 1539, is when he died. His festival day is a moveable feast in the Sikh calendar each year.

Africa

Nov

Stir-up Sunday (UK): November 24

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CHRISTMAS PUDDING

STIR-UP SUNDAY IS A BRITISH TRADITION

Stir-up Sunday is a traditional day in the United Kingdom, celebrated on the last Sunday before Advent. The day marks the start of the Christmas preparations, particularly the tradition of making the Christmas pudding, also known as plum pudding.

The name "Stir-up Sunday" comes from the opening words of the Collect (a short prayer) for the day in the Book of Common Prayer:

"Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people..."

This prayer encouraged people to "stir up" their hearts and prepare for Advent. Still, it also became associated with the culinary act of "stirring up" ingredients for the traditional Christmas pudding.

PLUM PUDDING, A BRITISH TRADITION

Plum pudding, often referred to as Christmas pudding, is a decadent, dense dessert made with a mixture of dried fruits (historically referred to as "plums" though no actual plums are in the modern recipe), spices, suet, and other ingredients like breadcrumbs, sugar, and brandy. Stir-up Sunday is when families come together to make the pudding before Christmas Day, allowing it time to mature and develop its flavors.

KEY TRADITIONS

—Family Involvement: Stirring the Christmas pudding is a family activity, with each member of the household taking turns to stir the mixture from east to west, symbolizing the Wise Men's journey to Bethlehem.

—Making a Wish: Traditionally, while stirring the pudding, each family member makes a secret wish for the coming year.

—Adding Coins or Charms: Some people place a silver coin (usually a sixpence) or small charms into the pudding mixture, which tradition says brings luck to the person who finds each in their pudding.

—Maturing the Pudding: Once prepared, the pudding is wrapped and stored for several weeks, allowing the flavors to develop. On Christmas Day, it is steamed and often served with brandy, set alight for a dramatic flaming pudding presentation.

Plum pudding is a centerpiece of traditional British Christmas celebrations, representing family unity, luck, and anticipation of the holiday season. Stir-up Sunday marks the beginning of these celebrations, allowing families to come together in preparation for Christmas.

In modern times, while fewer families may prepare their own Christmas pudding, Stir-up Sunday remains an important cultural event, symbolizing the start of festive preparations and the joyful spirit of the holidays.

Africa

Nov

Talent, Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day: November 24

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Shannon Hurd's unique talent is that she can throw a football more accurately than any man or professional football player. If she were a man, she'd probably be a multi-millionaire playing for an NFL team. She created this day so others could share their unique talents with friends. Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day first ran in 2005.

Africa

Nov

Totensonntag (DE/NL)(C): November 24

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HONORING THE DEAD

TOTENSONNTAG

Totensonntag, or "Sunday of the Dead," is a religious holiday observed in Germany and the Netherlands. It is a Protestant day of remembrance for the dead, similar to All Saints' Day in Catholic tradition. The holiday falls on the last Sunday before Advent, usually in late November.

The tradition of Totensonntag, with its roots dating back to 1816, was established by King Frederick William III of Prussia. The king's noble intention was to honor the memory of soldiers who died during the Napoleonic Wars. This historical event has evolved to become a day to remember all deceased loved ones, and it has become widely observed across Protestant communities in Germany. Totensonntag remains a solemn day dedicated to reflecting and commemorating the dead, a tradition that connects us to our past.

Totensonntag reflects on mortality, remembers deceased loved ones, and seeks comfort in faith. It coincides with the end of the liturgical year in the Christian calendar, which is often a period of reflection on life, death, and eternity. The holiday holds deep significance for families and communities as they gather to honor those who have passed away, often focusing on spiritual renewal and contemplation of the afterlife.

On Totensonntag, people visit cemeteries to lay flowers or light candles on the graves of their loved ones, creating a quiet and reflective atmosphere. Churches hold special services where prayers and sermons focus on death, mourning, and hope for eternal life. The day is marked by silence and respect, with many cities enforcing restrictions on public events and activities, such as music, dancing, or festive gatherings, to maintain the day's solemnity.

Totensonntag is not just an important cultural and religious day in Germany and the Netherlands; it's a day that brings people together. It allows individuals and communities to collectively remember the deceased, fostering a sense of belonging and unity. It's a day for reflection on our lives and faith, a day we share with our loved ones and communities.

Africa

Nov

Blasé Day: November 25

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Blasé Day falls around Thanksgiving each year and marks that Netherland of time between festivities. It's when you've got too much going on and no energy to do anymore. In other words, it is a day to have zero enthusiasm for anything. Just another crazy holiday from Wellcat.

Africa

Nov

Come and Take It Day (1778): November 25*

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"Come and Take It!" was a rallying cry during the American Revolution and later turned into the motto of the Tea Party. Tradition states the words were first spoken by Revolutionary War hero Lt. Col. John Mc Intosh, commander of Fort Morris at Sunbury. Mc Intosh shouted the challenge: "Come and take it!" to the British fleet arriving on November 25, 1778. The ships sought to force the fort to surrender, and a standoff resulted in the British leaving temporarily. However, they returned in January 1779 and managed to take the fort then. Come and Take It! has come to epitomize American chutzpah and dogged defiance. This event is one of two Come and Take it Days, with the first based upon an event in 1835. The phrase "Come and Take It!" was first used in 480 BC in the Battle of Thermopylae by King Leonidas of Sparta against the Persians.

Africa

Nov

Emmy Awards, Intl.: November 25 (est)

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The International Emmy Awards honors television films and programs produced outside the US and is presented by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This awards program aims to promote culture and understanding and expose the American public to the television programs created and produced in various parts of the world. The need for these awards became apparent when the three largest television networks professed disinterest in showing foreign-produced programs. Because of this, the co-founder of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Ralph Baruch, decided that having an Emmy award for such shows would foster interest. The first award ceremony was held in the Plaza Hotel, New York City, in 1973, with more than 200 guests in attendance. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are unknown until a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Nov

Independence Day, (SR)(1975): November 25

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Independence Day in Suriname marks the anniversary of November 25, 1975, when the nation gained independence from The Netherlands. Independence Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Nov

National Day, (BA)(1943): November 25

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National Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the anniversary of November 25, 1943, when it declared its statehood within the federation of Yugoslavia. National Day is a national holiday.

Africa