November - Interesting Facts
November is the 11th month of the year and one of four months with a length of 30 days (quick...what are the other 3?). November was the ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar and has retained its name from the Latin novem meaning nine. Effort Trust thought it would be fun to put together some other interesting tidbits about November.
Topaz is one of the birthstones for November. Topaz is found in many colors, but it is the orange-yellow topaz that is the traditional birthstone for November. Topaz is a symbol of friendship. Citrine is also a November birthstone. Citrine is actually a quartz crystal and is yellow to orange in color. It is often mistaken for the orange-yellow topaz which is the more expensive of the two birthstones.
The flower for the month of November is the chrysanthemum. The word chrysanthemum comes from the Greek words chrys and anthemum. Chrys means golden, the original color of the chrysanthemum, and anthemum means flower. The symbols of the chrysanthemum are optimism and joy.
Scorpio and Sagittarius are the astrological signs for November. Birthdays from November 1st through the 21st fall under the Scorpio sign. November 22nd through November 30th birthdays fall under the sign of Sagittarius.
- In the United States and Canada, November is National Beard Month or No Shave Month and you will see many people participating in Movember!
- In Finland they call November 'marraskuu' which translates as month of the dead.
- The Erie Canal was formally opened at New York on November 4, 1825.
- Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was given in November, 1863.
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Parker Brothers introduced the world to the Monopoly game on November 5, 1935.
- The US and Canada recognize the end of WWI every year on November 11 and pay tribute to our veterans.
- The first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world, The Holland Tunnel, opened to traffic on November 13, 1927.
- The Suez Canal opened, November 17, 1869.
- United States and Panama signed the treaty that provided for the Panama Canal on November 18, 1903.
- On November 18, 1963 Bell Telephone Company introduced to the public the push button phone.
- John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963.
- French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was born on November 24, 1864.
- After discovering debris-covered stairs, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew entered the four-room Egyptian tomb of 18-year-old King Tutankhamen on November 26, 1922.
- Commander Richard E. Byrd and crew of three became first to fly over the South Pole, November 29, 1929.
- Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels, was born November 30, 1667.
- Mark Twain, American author, was born November 30, 1835.
- British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born November 30, 1874.