Welcome to November, the month considered the darkest one of the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. When you think about it, it makes sense that it’s earned that reputation considering the date that it follows. Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve literally means “All Saints’ Evening,” referring to the night of October 31st. This year, while the temperature was cool, the sky was clear, and we had over 200 trick or treaters stop by.
My family takes the job of dishing out treats seriously. They take the time to don costumes and entertain the kiddies and teens who drop over. This year, they went all out and the parents who accommpany their kids were quite impressed. Here’s a peek at who wore what.
If you’re old enough, you might recognize me as Linc from The Mod Squad. LOL The little short one wearing my sunglasses at night!
But beyond costumes, candy, and fun, Halloween ushers in Allhallowtide, a three-day religious season in Western Christianity dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
- November 1, 2026: Día de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), dedicated to remembering children who have passed away.
- November 2, 2026: Día de los Muertos / All Souls’ Day, dedicated to honoring deceased adults.
Then, after we have a few days to recuperate, it’s November 11. That’s the day set aside in Canada known as Remembrance Day, with most parades and ceremonies taking place at the elevent hour of the eleventh month when we recognize those who fought in the wars and died so that we could enjoy the freedom we have today. We also recognize those who serve in our armed forces today.
Another reason why it’s the darkest month is because we move from Daylight Saving Time to Eastern Standard Time, gaining an hour, so that it’s lighter in the morning, but dark by 5:00 p.m. Many provinces have ended the biannual time shift. I’m hoping Ontario will, too. But, whether the time changes or not, days are shorter in November as we move toward December 21, 2026, which will be our shortest day of the year this year. Along with shorter days, November traditionally brings rain and cold winds, that we have to battle as we rake the leaves that cover the grass. Some people say that we shouldn’t rake them, but when you have several large maples on your property, if you don’t rake, everything under the six-inch mat of leaves with die.
If you live in the US, you have Thanksgiving in November, a spot of color, but we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, so all we have to look forward to are Black Friday deals and Christmas shopping. There you have it. My reasons why November is a dreary, dark month.
Here’s this month’s question.
November 4 question – As a writer, do you have favorite themes that you like to explore in your stories? If so, what are they?
This is a complicated question for me to answer since I write in different subgenres of romance. The one trope I use in all my books is good triumphing over evil. Credit it to my Catholic education, but I do believe that, in the end, good will always come out on top. This is evident in my suspense novels, my paranormal books, and my fantasies. The other trope I use is that love will find a way. It could be a second chance at romance, enemies to friends, or even the magic of the season, but something always pulls the lovers together the way they’re meant to be. I believe in soulmates and life long commitments. Since my husband and I have been married 55 years now, we must be doing something right.
See you next month. Don’t forget to check the other posts here:
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