World Nutella Day celebrates what happens when hazelnuts and chocolate collide. For example, millions of people celebrating all on February 5th each year!
It is often said that necessity is the mother of invention. Adding hazelnuts when cocoa is hard to come by may have been an Italian trick during hard times. In the 1800s, in the northern Italian city of Piedmont, they made a paste of chocolate and hazelnuts at a time when the nuts were abundant, but the cocoa was not.
At the end of World War II, cocoa was once again difficult to come by. Pastry Maker, Pietro Ferrero, made loaves of this sweet paste and called it Giandujot. Soon after, the Ferrero Company was founded on May 14, 1946.
It wasn’t until 1951 that Ferrero made the paste into a spreadable form. We wouldn’t even recognize the spread by name until 1964 when Ferrero’s son Michele gave the jar of creamy hazelnut and cocoa the name Nutella.
Sara Rosso founded World Nutella Day in 2007 in celebration of and a way to introduce her favorite spread to her friends. She first discovered Nutella while living in Italy as a food blogger. Read more about her discovery and creation of World Nutella Day at whenihavetim
Enjoy your favorite hazelnut spread. It’s that simple! Of course, we always suggest celebrating with a friend or family member. Celebrations are best when shared. Create a new recipe or try the one you’ve itching to try. Share your favorites while you’re testing and tasting, too!
Peanut butter lovers and fudge lovers come together on November 20th to celebrate National Peanut Butter Fudge Day.
On June 16th, people across the United States celebrated National Fudge Day. Just by adding creamy or crunchy peanut butter, the celebration continues. They will have the yummy taste of peanut butter as the fudge flavor and star of the show.
Fudge originated in the United States, possibly by a happy accident. In 1886, a letter written by Emelyn Bettersby Hartridge was discovered. Ms. Hartridge attended Vassar College as a student in Poughkeepsie, New York, and the letter referred to a fudge her cousin had made. Her cousin, in Baltimore Maryland, was selling the fudge for 40 cents per pound. Ms. Hartridge obtained the recipe, and in 1888, she made 30 pounds of fudge for the Vassar College Senior Auction.
In the late 19th century, some shops on Mackinac Island, Michigan, began to produce products similar to that of the Vassar College fudge and sold it to summer vacationers. Fudge is still made in some of the original shops there today.
Peanut butter fudge adds great flavor to many desserts. Add it to ice cream, pies, and other candies. Of course, enjoying peanut butter fudge on its own is perfectly fine, too. Stop by your favorite candy shop or make your own. If you need a recipe, try these out. No matter how you decided to celebrate, be sure to invite someone to join you. No celebration is complete unless you have someone to join you!
Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer as a fire opal carries the color of moonrise. ~Gladys Taber
November is the 11th month of the Gregorian calendar, with 30 days. Its name derives from the Latin word “novem,” meaning nine, as it was originally the ninth month in the ancient Roman calendar before January and February were added. It signals the transition toward winter in the Northern Hemisphere, often associated with harvest preparations, thanksgiving feasts, and a sense of reflection.
Season and Weather
In the Northern Hemisphere, November is the last full month of autumn, with days growing shorter and temperatures cooling significantly. Average weather varies by region: in much of the United States and Europe, expect highs ranging from 40–60°F (4–15°C) in temperate areas, with increasing chances of frost, rain, or early snow, especially later in the month. 16 Folklore warns that heavy November snow may persist until April, while mild conditions could lead to a muddy winter. 16 In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s spring, bringing warmer weather and blooming landscapes.
Sports
November is a peak time for several major sports seasons. American football is in full swing, with the NFL regular season heating up and college football games building toward bowl selections. The NBA basketball and NHL hockey seasons are well underway, featuring intense early matchups. Globally, soccer leagues like the English Premier League continue, and endurance events such as the New York City Marathon (typically the first Sunday) draw massive participation. Other highlights include tennis tournaments and the start of winter sports preparations.
Activities
Common activities in November revolve around autumn’s end and holiday prep. People enjoy leaf-peeping in colorful forests, harvest festivals, and outdoor pursuits like hiking or apple picking before colder weather sets in. Indoor tasks include gardening clean-up, such as using fallen leaves for mulch or marking plant locations for spring. Thanksgiving preparations dominate in the U.S., with cooking feasts, family gatherings, and shopping on Black Friday. Awareness campaigns like No-Shave November encourage beard-growing for cancer awareness. It’s also a time for community events, aviation appreciation, and stamp collecting hobbies.
Birthstones: Topaz (symbolizing friendship, often in yellow or orange hues) and citrine (a more affordable quartz crystal representing joy and success).
Flower: Chrysanthemum, from Greek roots meaning “golden flower,” symbolizing honesty, joy, and optimism.
Symbols: Zodiac signs are Scorpio (October 23–November 21, representing intensity and transformation) and Sagittarius (November 22–December 21, symbolizing adventure and philosophy). November is also linked to themes of preparation and somber reflection in folklore.
Famous Birthdays
November boasts many notable figures across history, science, arts, and entertainment. Some highlights include:
November 7: Marie Curie (1867), pioneering physicist and chemist who discovered radium.
November 10: Martin Luther (1483), founder of the Protestant Reformation.
November 11: Leonardo DiCaprio (1974), acclaimed actor and environmental activist.
November 14: Claude Monet (1840), influential Impressionist painter.
November 19: Indira Gandhi (1917), first female Prime Minister of India.
November 20: Robert F. Kennedy (1925), U.S. Senator and advocate for civil rights.
November 21: Voltaire (1694), Enlightenment philosopher and writer.
November 30: Mark Twain (1835), American author of classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Important Occurrences from History
Two pivotal events stand out in November’s historical timeline:
November 11, 1918: The Armistice of World War I was signed, ending the devastating conflict at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, leading to celebrations worldwide and the basis for modern Veterans/Remembrance Day.
November 22, 1963: U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, a shocking event that reshaped American politics and culture, with Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as president shortly after.
Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer as a fire opal carries the color of moonrise. ~Gladys Taber
The word November is derived from the Latin novem meaning nine. On the Roman calendar, November was the 9th month of the year. Like October, Numa Pompilius moved November when January and February were added to more accurately reflect the length of a year on Earth. Along with September, this month makes the first rhyme in the poem we learn to help us remember the number of days in each month. “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November.”
Weather & Seasons
Even though many consider November to be the last month of Autumn, it’s not. On the astronomical calendar, Autumn doesn’t end until the middle of December. However, it is considered the third month of Autumn on the meteorological calendar. So, for those fall-loving people, cling to every moment of cinnamon candles and crimson-colored walks by reminding your winter-loving friends of this.
The Beaver Moon lights up in November. It is also called the Frost Moon since the first hard frost of the season typically makes its appearance in November. Two meteor showers appear in October. They are the Draconids and the Orionids.
Football season is well underway. Basketball and hockey are heating up, too. Teams meet up for cross-country, lacrosse, and more while the weather holds.
If you don’t know by now the new season of Outlander premiers November 22 on Starz. So plan accordingly, especially for watch parties. We have been waiting what seems like forever for this and it’s finally coming this month!
Those born in November fall under Scorpio (scorpion) or Sagittarius (centaur) signs.
Both topaz and citrine are birthstones for November babies. Topaz comes in a range of colors including blue, orange, pink, and violet. However, red topaz is rare. Citrine comes in fiery oranges and yellows. Both stones are considered calming and soothing.
November’s birth flower, the chrysanthemum finds its glory this time of year with its fall colors. Also known as “mums” for short, a chrysanthemum’s colors carry special meanings:
Red = Love White = Purity, innocence, pure love Yellow = Slighted love
5 Fast Facts
1. If you’re born in November, you join the likes of Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Schulz, Loretta Swit, Laura Bush, Will Rogers, Danny DeVito, and Billy the Kid. And you’re birthstones are beautiful, too. Look for Topaz and Citrine.
3. The Anglo-Saxons appropriately called November “Wind Monath.”
4. Many poets have written about November including Emily Dickinson, William Bradford, Lydia Maria Child, Sir Walter Scott, and Guns N’ Roses. However, Shakespeare never did write about the 11th month.
5. November ties October for the most number of U.S. presidents born in a month:
November often blows in like a hurricane. Other times it lingers like the warmth of the sun. For many, the month fills us with gratitude. It represents family holidays, too. As warm and cozy as November seems to many, others consider the 11th month of the year to be somewhat bleary. But if you look closely, holidays like National CinnamonDay, National Doughnut Day, National Spicy Hermit Cookie, National Gingerbread Cookie Day, National Red Mitten Day and National Homemade Bread Day make November quite cozy.
The word November is derived from the Latin novem meaning nine. On the Roman calendar, November was the 9th month of the year. Like October, Numa Pompilius moved November when January and February were added to more accurately reflect the length of a year on Earth. Along with September, this month makes the first rhyme in the poem we learn to help us remember the number of days in each month. “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November.”
Some of the days in November carry the whole memory of summer as a fire opal carries the color of moonrise. ~Gladys Taber
Even though many consider November to be the last month of Autumn, it’s not. On the astronomical calendar, Autumn doesn’t end until the middle of December. So, for those fall-loving people, cling to every moment of cinnamon candles and crimson-colored walks by reminding your winter-loving friends of this. Other holidays that shout “November” include, Black Friday, Cyber Monday,
Football season is well underway. Basketball and hockey are heating up, too. Teams meet up for cross-country, lacrosse and more while the weather holds.
And when it comes to a famous Scorpio or Sagittarius, November has lots of company. If you’re born in November, you join the likes of Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Schulz, Loretta Swit, Laura Bush, Will Rogers, Danny DeVito and Billy the Kid. And you’re birthstones are beautiful, too. Look for Topaz and Citrine.
