1. Like various other months on the calendar, November has something of a misleading name. November gets its name from the Latin word “novem,” which means “nine.” But today November is the eleventh month of the year. So is November a misnomer? Not exactly. November was the ninth month on the early Roman calendar. However, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted and the Julian calendar was abandoned, November kept its name if not its spot in the monthly pecking order. Hence, November is still known as “November” even though it’s now the eleventh month of the year and not the ninth.
2. November is a significant month in world history. On November 11, 1918, at 5:45 a.m., an armistice was signed between the Allied Powers and Germany at Compiègne, France. The signing of the armistice ended hostilities on the Western Front, thus putting an end to World War I, which had begun more than four years earlier. The signing of the armistice ultimately led to the observance of Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. Armistice Day was subsequently renamed Remembrance Day and Americans celebrate Veterans Day on November 11. Both Remembrance Day and Veterans Day honor military personnel who served honorably in times of war, conflict and peace.
3. Topaz is the traditional birthstone of November. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the ancient Greeks believed topaz could make anyone who wore it invisible. Though that idea no longer holds water, topaz remains a symbol of honor and strength.
4. On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was shot, sending shockwaves through the world. He was traveling in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Despite rushing to the hospital, doctors could not save President Kennedy. Authorities arrested Lee Harvey Oswald for killing President Kennedy and for fatally shooting Patrolman J.D. Tippitt. During a brief ceremony on board Air Force One, a federal judge swore Lyndon B. Johnson in as president the same day.
5. Archaeologists found the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, or King Tut, in Egypt on November 26, 1922. It had been undisturbed for over 3,000 years. Many experts consider their discovery the most important Ancient Egyptian discovery ever. Tut, known as the ‘child-king,’ was just nine years old when he became the ruler of Egypt. He ruled for ten years before his death and was buried in a tomb within the Valley of Kings. Archaeologist Howard Carter and a wealthy British man named Lord Carnarvon searched for King Tut’s tomb for five years. Once inside, they found thousands of incredible objects. These included a golden shrine, gold coffins, and of course, the famous gold funeral mask of Tutankhamun. People often recognize it as a symbol of Ancient Egypt today. The discovery attracted attention from the media across the world. It took Carter 10 years to remove the 5,000 items from the tomb. The artifacts are now on display in the Egyptian Museum.