November brings the holiday season upon us marking the time for celebrations with family and friends. This month is not only a time for giving thanks and turning back the clocks, but also brings the opportunity to engage in meaningful events and holidays throughout the entire month.
Here are 10 heartwarming holidays, events, and celebrations that you can embrace and recognize this November with your family:
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1. Native American Heritage Month
Take time this month to learn about the people native to your town. Don't know where to start? This map shows indigenous territories, treaties, and languages throughout the world. It's a chance to connect with the roots of your community.
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2. National Adoption Month
More than 117,000 children and youth were waiting to be adopted from the foster care system in 2020, according to data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System.
Have you considered adoption? Take this month to research the process where you live and see if adoption might be right for your family. You can get insight on the adoption process in National Adoption Month: One Family's Journey.
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3. Día de los Muertos
November 1 and 2
This vibrant Mexican holiday celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away. Dive into the colorful and meaningful traditions of Día de los Muertos on November 1st and 2nd. Learn about the ofrendas (altars), sugar skulls, and marigolds that fill this festive celebration. Find out more about Día de los Muertos traditions.
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4. Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 3
"If I could turn back ttt-iimmme ..." singing loudly in my best Cher voice. Get ready folks because that is exactly what we'll do! This is the time of the year when families in New Iberia fall back and gain an hour of sleep.
Before parenthood, this would be the time to relish in that extra hour of sweet, uninterrupted slumber. But with kids in the mix? That additional hour can sometimes lead to cranky little ones and disrupted routines. Fear not. We've got tips from sleep consultants to help your children adjust seamlessly to this change.
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5. National STEM / STEAM Day
November 8
Kids involved in STEM or STEAM activities whether at school, extra curricular groups, or at home will have an advantage in their learning process. STEM / STEAM activities allow children to engage in investigative processes that help them develop a better grasp on problem solving techniques.
We have a great resource for parents to use at home At-Home STEAM Fun: 10 Paper Engineering Challenges for Kids.
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6. National Louisiana Day
November 9
Today is the day that all Louisiana families should celebrate ... Louisiana style!
Whether that be with a good bowl of gumbo, a seafood platter at your favorite restaurant in New Iberia, a visit to one of our local museums to learn more about the history and culture of our state, or a by taking a walk along one of the many rivers and bayous that are in our area, this is the day to be proud of your Louisiana heritage.
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7. Veterans Day
November 11
Celebrate a veteran in your life by having your kids write a letter, draw a picture of thanks, or interview them about their experiences. Need to connect to a veteran? Operation Gratitude collects and distributes letters to veterans, as well as deployed troops, new recruits, and first responders. They even have a guide to letter writing to help you and your kids get started.
Find out about all the local events and resources for our veterans this year in Celebrate Veterans Day this November in and around New Iberia. We have the list of several events you can enjoy this year in New Iberia, Franklin, Morgan City as well as around Acadiana.
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8. National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 17th - 23rd
As families prepare to celebrate the American holiday traditions of Thanksgiving, there are families in our community who will struggle to put food on their tables this holiday season. Strategically recognized the week before Thanksgiving, this week gives us all the opportunity to find a way to support other families who may be in need this year. If you are looking for resources to get involved or to engage in discussions with your children, visit https://hhweek.org/ for more information. You can also submit it to Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
If you know of an event in Iberia, St. Mary, St. Martin, or Vermilion parishes, please feel free to submit them directly to our event calendar so we can share that resource with our community. The Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing (ARCH) is inviting the Acadiana community their upcoming fundraiser, Bake Me Home this November at Vermilionville. You can get the details on our event calendar.
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9. Thanksgiving
November 28
Bring on the holiday for the foodies and football fanatics! Who doesn't look forward to the many Thanksgiving dishes that surround our table every year?
This American holiday brings families together to celebrate with delicious meals and simply enjoy catching up. Although the cooking can be quite exhausting, our family finds ways to incorporate a little fun in the kitchen while prepping for our favorite dishes with a lot of laughs and dancing to a few of our favorite tunes as we cook and clean in the kitchen.
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10. Small Business Saturday
November 30
Small Business Saturday offers each of us the chance to support and shop the local businesses in our area this holiday season. We love working with small businesses and organizations in New Iberia, Franklin, Morgan City, Abbeville, St. Martinville, and Breaux Bridge to advertise local family-friendly events, holiday specials, available services, or other product offerings in our area that keep our community thriving. We are here to support our local businesses all year long — and we hope you do too!
Shop Small Saturday is happening this month on Main Street in downtown New Iberia offering the chance to support local vendors and downtown merchants.
Stay tuned for our 2024 Holiday Shopping Guide to be released later this month. It's the perfect resources for your holiday shopping this season that will support the local, small businesses in our area.
Macaroni KID New Iberia loves sharing all the news, events, and local celebrations that include all families from Morgan City to New Iberia!
Did you know you can submit your free and/or low-cost family-friendly event directly on our event calendar?
Events under $25.00 per person are reviewed and added to our calendar at no charge!
If your business or organization would like to be featured as part of a national day or monthly holiday to advertise your products or services, please reach out to us for more information on our advertising packages. Also, if you have a suggestion for a holiday or event recognized by your family for the upcoming months that you would like to see featured, please email your suggestions to us at mackidnewiberia@macaronikid.com.
We'd love to hear from you!
