November 1 Holidays, Observances and History

November 1 opens a new month with a remarkable mix of sacred and secular observances. It is All Saints’ Day in the Christian calendar, the start of the two-day Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico, and World Vegan Day around the globe. In 2026, November 1 falls on a Sunday, which brings first-Sunday observances and the United States’ end of daylight saving time onto the same date. These November 1 holidays make the first day of the month one of the busiest on the calendar. It is the 305th day of 2026, with 60 days remaining in the year.

November 1 holidays and observances

• All Saints’ Day — a Christian feast honouring all saints, known and unknown, observed with church services and visits to cemeteries.
• World Vegan Day — established in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Vegan Society and the coining of the word “vegan” in November 1944.
• Día de los Muertos — Mexico’s Day of the Dead begins on November 1, honouring deceased loved ones with ofrendas, marigolds, and family gatherings.
• National Authors’ Day — a United States observance honouring authors and the books they write.
• Prime Meridian Day — marking the prime meridian at Greenwich, the zero line of longitude from which the world’s time zones are measured.
• Daylight Saving Time Ends — in the United States, clocks fall back an hour on the first Sunday of November, which in 2026 is November 1.
• Zero Tasking Day — a day to deliberately slow down, set aside multitasking, and give the mind a proper rest.
• National Brush Day — observed in the United States on November 1, the day after Halloween, as a reminder to brush twice a day for two minutes.
• National Cook for Your Pets Day — a day for pet lovers to prepare a special homemade meal for their animals.
• National Vinegar Day — celebrating vinegar in all its varieties, from the kitchen to the cleaning cupboard.
• Karnataka Rajyotsava — Karnataka Formation Day, marking the creation of the Indian state of Karnataka on November 1, 1956.

Featured holiday: World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, then Chair of The Vegan Society, to mark the society’s 50th anniversary. The date honours the coining of the word “vegan” in November 1944 by Donald Watson and the society’s founding members. Because the exact November 1944 founding date was never recorded, November 1 was chosen — a date that also coincides with Samhain, Halloween, and the Day of the Dead.

Ways to mark World Vegan Day:

1. Try a fully plant-based menu for the day, from breakfast to dinner.
2. Learn what veganism means beyond diet, including clothing and household products.
3. Share a favourite vegan recipe with a friend or family member.
4. Support a local vegan business, café, or restaurant.

This day in history

• 1512 — the Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo, is shown to the public for the first time.
• 1604 — Shakespeare’s Othello receives its first recorded performance.
• 1755 — the Lisbon earthquake strikes, and the tsunami and fires that follow devastate the city, killing tens of thousands.
• 1765 — the Stamp Act goes into effect in the American colonies.
• 1800 — John Adams becomes the first president to live in the White House.
• 1870 — the US Weather Bureau issues its first official forecast.
• 1952 — Ivy Mike, the first US hydrogen bomb test, is detonated at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
• 1993 — the Maastricht Treaty takes effect, formally establishing the European Union.

Famous birthdays on November 1

• Stephen Crane (1871–1900) — American author of The Red Badge of Courage.
• Gary Player (born 1935) — South African golfer who won nine major championships and completed the career Grand Slam.
• Tim Cook (born 1960) — chief executive of Apple.
• Anthony Kiedis (born 1962) — lead singer and co-founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Toni Collette (born 1972) — Australian actress known for Muriel’s Wedding, The Sixth Sense, and Hereditary.
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (born 1973) — Miss World 1994 and one of Indian cinema’s most internationally recognised stars.

Related days

Yesterday: October 31 — Halloween, World Cities Day, World Savings Day, National Magic Day. Tomorrow: November 2 — All Souls’ Day, and Día de los Muertos continues. Browse the month: November hub.