November Events & Holidays in RTMSD

Parents, teachers, students, and administrators came together to learn about and discuss the cultural holidays and events observed throughout the school year. Together, they developed the list of holidays and events our schools will recognize, teach about, or celebrate. The selections featured in this newsletter reflect the voices and input of our community.

By learning about the cultures, traditions, and experiences represented in our community, we build greater understanding and acceptance of one another. This shared learning strengthens relationships and enhances each person’s sense of belonging in our schools.

Please select the “Resources” links to learn more.

Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor dignity by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members. The events/holidays are listed in the order they occur during the month. For more details, please click on the "Resources" links.

History of National Native American Heritage Month

National Native American Month started off as an effort to get a day of appreciation and acknowledgment for the unique contributions made by the first Americans for the growth and establishment of the United States. The effort has now resulted in a whole month being celebrated for that purpose.

Dr. Arthur C. Parker was one of the first supporters of having an American Indian Day. He was a Seneca Indian and the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He was also the one to convince the Boy Scouts of America to create a day for the Native Americans — the Boy Scouts adopted this day for three days.

In 1915, a plan concerning American Indian Day was formally approved in the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting. The president of the American Indian Association, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, called upon the country to observe this day.

The first time American Indian Day was declared was in May 1916. In 1990, a joint resolution was approved by George H.W. Bush, which called for November to be named National American Heritage Month. Declarations like these have been issued since 1994, such as Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

History of All Saints Day

On May 13, in the year 609 A.D. or 610 A.D., Pope Boniface IV consecrated the day and ordered an anniversary to celebrate the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs. He may have chosen May 13 because many churches in the East already had a similar day to honor the dead and the martyrs. It was Pope Gregory III (690–741 A.D.) who moved the date of All Saints’ Day to November 1 on the Old Style calendar when he founded an oratory in St. Peter’s at the Vatican to exalt the apostles, saints, martyrs, and “all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world.”

In the years and decades that followed, various influential figures in the church and government used their power to make All Saints’ Day an official observance in different Christian sects and denominations. Today, the holiday is also known — depending on the location and branch of the church — as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, and the Solemnity of All Saints.

What it is:
Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in Hinduism. It is also observed by many Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities. The holiday celebrates light over darkness, hope over despair, and goodness over harm.

A brief history:
Diwali has roots in several religious and cultural traditions. In many Hindu traditions, it commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after a long journey and his victory over evil. In other regions, it honors Lakshmi, the goddess associated with prosperity and well-being. For Jains, Diwali marks the spiritual liberation of Lord Mahavira. Sikhs observe Bandi Chhor Divas at this time, remembering the release of Guru Hargobind Sahib and others from imprisonment.

How it is celebrated:
Diwali is typically celebrated over five days in October or November, with dates based on the lunar calendar. Families may clean and decorate their homes, light small oil lamps called diyas, create colorful rangoli designs, wear new clothing, share sweets and gifts, visit family and friends, attend worship services, and participate in community celebrations. Some celebrations include fireworks, although many families and communities choose quieter or environmentally conscious ways to celebrate.

The History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day was initially known as Armistice Day and celebrated the end of World War I. The armistice, or call for peace, by the Germans was signed on Nov. 11, 1918, at the “eleventh hour” and ended the fighting between Allied forces and Germany. President Woodrow Wilson established Armistice Day one year later to honor those who served in WWI and celebrate the peace that followed.

After World War II and the Korean War, veterans service organizations urged the U.S. Congress to amend the holiday to be more inclusive of all veterans. Thus, Veterans Day was officially born in 1954 to honor American veterans, past and present. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was responsible for formally changing the name.

Veterans Day is always observed on Nov. 11, no matter what day of the week it falls on. It is a federal holiday, so many government offices, schools, and businesses close. If Veterans Day falls on a weekday, many communities choose to host their events the weekend before or after.

At the national level, the Arlington National Cemetery recognizes Veterans Day with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Typically, the president or an appointed representative will lay the wreath on this day.

Across the country, smaller towns and communities host events, including flag-raising ceremonies, moments of silence, and tributes at local veterans' memorials.

The 2026 Media Veterans Day Parade is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11. The parade will begin at 11:11 am at the Media Theater. Students from all of our schools in the Rose Tree Media School District participate every year to honor our local military veterans.

America’s Thanksgiving holiday, born in the 1500s, mythologized in 1621, and observed even during the bleakest hours of the Civil War, now stands as one of the nation’s most anticipated and beloved days — celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November (November 27, 2025).

It is important to understand the different perspectives of this, and all holidays. Learning different perspectives allows us to understand and respect our different experiences. The First Thanksgiving story emphasizes a peaceful exchange between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag yet seldom includes a Native American perspective. It also rarely acknowledges that peace was short-lived. Within a generation, war would erupt and the Wampanoag would ultimately lose their political independence and much of their territory. You can learn more about the Native American experience at the link for Native American Heritage Month.

Contemporary celebrations of Thanksgiving include a variety of traditions. Family, friends, food, and football have come to symbolize Thanksgiving — a rare celebratory holiday without an established gift-giving component. Instead, the day urges all of us to be grateful for things we do have.