November is the perfect month to travel. It’s nestled right in the period between the high seasons of the summer and winter holidays when the summer heat is dying down and winter flurries are still out of sight and out of mind. Milder temperatures draw smaller crowds, but there’s still lots to see, and often at lower prices, too.
The month of November is also a pleasant time of transition for many, and there are many celebrations during this time that bring out the biggest and brightest traditions around the world. With festivals and activities that are bursting with excitement and color, everyone you meet will be at their most jovial. If you’re traveling to any of these places in November, participating in these important celebrations can be a fantastic way to get a glimpse into local life – not to mention have a ton of fun!
India
Diwali
Diwali, one of the biggest festivals in India, is a festival of lights that marks the start of the Hindu New Year. The celebration date follows the Hindu calendar and usually falls between October and November. For five days, the triumph of good over evil is celebrated with huge celebrations, lavish meals, and spectacular firework displays. Every household will be lit up with special clay lamps called Deepavali, with vibrant designs made of colored rice or flour, or rangoli, decorating the entrances to welcome visitors. Diwali is a celebration of family and togetherness, and it’s a wonderful experience that is an important part of India’s cultural fabric. Visit Jaipur to see the delightfully lit marketplaces, Varanasi to experience a more spiritual side of Diwali, and Ayodhya for the grandest Diwali celebration in India.
Mexico
Day of the Dead
Each year on November 2nd, Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico with extravagant parties and parades, colorful decorations, and elaborate costumes and makeup. Contrary to what many might think, Day of the Dead is not the Mexican version of Halloween but a celebration of life and death that’s unique in the world. Celebrations can be quiet and intimate or loud and festive but always serve to honor deceased loved ones and welcome them back as they reunite with the living, for one day only, to celebrate together. Oaxaca’s marketplaces are the best places to find fun and festive items, like sugar skulls and ‘pan de muerto’, used to decorate the ‘ofrendas’ – family altars with photos, candles, decorations, and food. Go to Mexico City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in fashion, where an elaborate parade featuring vibrant costumes and catrinas runs along the Paseo de la Reforma.
Thailand
Loi Krathong
Thailand is no stranger to celebration, but of all of its festivals, Loi Krathong stands out. This fall festival is one of the most picturesque and awe-inspiring sights in the world, where small candlelit floats are released into rivers and waterways in a mesmerizing act of exchanging the old for the new. Foreigners and locals alike participate in this act of sending the negativity of the past year away with the river and wishing for good things to come, and it’s easy to join in as long as you find yourself near a body of water. In some parts of Thailand, the lights in the river are matched with candlelit lanterns in the sky, lit up in celebration of the Yi Peng festival. Though it’s a separate holiday, Yi Peng often coincides with Loi Krathong, resulting in a spectacular display of floating lights all around you in places like Chiang Mai, where both festivals are celebrated.
USA
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the quintessential fall holiday in America. It has a storied history, but everyone will agree that it’s a time of gratitude, quality time with loved ones, and heaps and heaps of food. Thanksgiving Day in America falls on the fourth Thursday in November when everyone celebrates by participating in festive activities like turkey trots and parades or by simply preparing an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner with a football game on TV in the background. For the full American Thanksgiving experience, catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City as it snakes around Central Park down Sixth Avenue. If the crowd gets too much, catch the parade on TV while settling down with pumpkin pie and good company.
Cayman Islands
Pirates Week
In celebration of the islands’ pirate folklore, the Cayman Islands are transformed for one week in November into a raucous and family-friendly pirate-themed celebration. A huge bonfire on Cayman Brac sets off this unique festival that will take you through the Islands with swashbuckling mock battles and hijinks that you won’t want to miss. Music, firework displays, and amazing food are aplenty during Pirates Week, so put on your best pirate gear and join in on the festivities.
Cambodia
Bon Om Touk
The Cambodia Water Festival, or Bon Om Touk, celebrates the end of the rainy season while also observing a one-of-its-kind natural occurrence – the reversal of the flow of the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers. Bon Om Touk is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in Cambodia, where people give thanks to the river as an important source of life. Festivities are centered around the rivers, with riverboat races during the day and fireworks over brightly lit parade boats at night. The celebrations last three days, with people from all over the country converging around the river banks to join the festivities. Phnom Penh’s Sisowath Quay is often overflowing with spectators viewing the races. To join in, watch as colorfully-lit parade boats line the waterways in the Loy Pratip, and pay your respects to the moon during Sampeah Preah Khae with offerings of food and drink. Then, gather at a temple to share some ‘ambok’, a traditional rice dish eaten during Bon Om Touk.
November is as good a time as any for a celebration. Where will you go to celebrate?
