U.S. Holidays and Observations in November 2009

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Veterans Day, and Other Celebrations

Sep 27, 2009

U.S. holidays and observations in November 2009 include Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and some unusual celebrations like National Cashew Day.

November marks the shift from fall weather to the beginning of winter weather, and the end of "back to school" days to the beginning of the holiday season. Here's a list of U.S. holidays and observations during this month.

Thanksgiving Day 2009: November 26

In the United States, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, and in 2009 this falls on November 26. Thanksgiving is a U.S. national holiday, and all government offices and just about everything else is closed for this holiday that celebrates harvest, family, and thankfulness. At the White House, the day is honored by the annual presidential pardoning of a turkey.

Black Friday: November 27

Unofficially, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas/holiday shopping season, and the popular shopping day after Thanksgiving has become known as "Black Friday." Many Americans have the day off after Thanksgiving, which makes it ideal for shopping, The day got its name in the late 1960s by overworked Philadelphia police officers who had to deal with excessive traffic and shoplifting.

Stores throughout the United States offer huge bargains to attract the throngs of Christmas shoppers. Stores typically advertise heavily in Thanksgiving Day newspapers, and often open their doors to shoppers as early as 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. Competition between stores may be steeper than ever in 2009 because of the economic downturn, and consumers may be able to expect excellent bargains this year.

Anti-consumerism advocates also have designated the day after Thanksgiving as Buy Nothing Day, when consumers are encouraged to fight consumerism through withholding their spending.

Cyber Monday: November 30

The 21st century version of Black Friday is the newly termed "Cyber Monday," which occurs on the Monday after Thanksgiving. With people back to work on Monday and frequently on their computers, online retailers compete with each other by offering excellent one-day sales.

Veterans Day/Armistice Day 2009: November 11

November 11 is always the date of Veterans Day (unless it falls on a weekend, and then this federal and state holiday is moved to a Friday or Monday accordingly). This day is set aside to honor U.S. veterans. It is also known as Armistice Day because it honors the signing of the armistice by Germany and the Allies that ended World War I in 1918. The year 2009 marks the 90th anniversary of the first celebration of Armistice Day, and subsequently Veterans Day.

Eid al-Adha: November 27

Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday that is known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," which honors the willingness of Ibrahim (known to Christians and Jews as Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismael (known to Christians and Jews as Isaac) at the insistence of God. This is a day for Muslims to renew their pledge of obedience and sacrifice to Allah. Traditionally, families sacrifice an animal to celebrate the day and share the meat with family members, friends, and the needy.

Bizarre, Unusual, and Otherwise Noteworthy November 2009 Holidays

So what else is going on in November 2009? Here are some of the more unusual days of celebration.

With Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Christmas season, November is a busy time for families and celebrations. Enjoy the crisp fall weather and have a happy November!

The copyright of the article U.S. Holidays and Observations in November 2009 in American Affairs is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish U.S. Holidays and Observations in November 2009 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.