I’m always trying to figure out how to make it easier for families to observe the Christian Year because we felt so overwhelmed when we first started that journey (which is why we wrote the book we wish we had then). I thought it might be helpful for our family to have resources compiled for the month ahead so that we can plan in advance which special saints days we want to observe and I hope having them all in one place is helpful to you, too!
And I pinned all of the following resources on a November Liturgical Living pinterest board for your convenience!
As always, remember not to get overwhelmed. You don’t have to observe every saints day! (We certainly don’t at our house.) The liturgical year is a gift. It shouldn’t feel like a burden!
I thought we could start a day early to include all three days of Hallowtide (Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls).
October 31: All Hallow’s Eve
Food for Thought:
Hallowmas with Harry: What Harry Potter Taught Me About Death and the Communion of Saints: Carrots for Michaelmas
Faith and Little Ones:
Finding Truth in Halloween: Look to Him and Be Radiant
All Saints’ Halloween Party: A Knotted Life
And I love Kendra’s idea to easily transform Halloween costumes into All Saints’ costumes:
Awesome All Saints Costumes, And More Halloween/All Saints’ Costumes, Hallowtide, It’s How We Roll
November 1st: All Saints Day
Faith and Little Ones:
All Saints Scavenger Hunt: Better Than Eden
Celebrating All the Saints: In the Heart of My Home
Food for Thought:
Octave of All Saints: A Monastery, a Home
Book Suggestions:
Books About Saints in Our Mass Bag: Carrots for Michaelmas
November 2nd: All Souls Day
Celebrating Around the Table:
Soul Cakes: Carrots for Michaelmas
Food for Thought:
At the End Charlotte Dies: Catholic All Year
Four Ways You Can Help the Souls in Purgatory: Living with Lady Philosophy
November 3rd: St. Martin de Porres:
Faith and Little Ones:
Celebrating the Feast of St. Martin de Porres: Two Os Plus More
St. Martin de Porres Glory Story CD: Holy Heroes
Book suggestions:
St. Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert by Gary Schmidt
November 4th: St. Charles Borromeo
Faith and Little Ones:
Coloring Page:
St. Charles Borromeo: Catholic Playground
November 5th: St. Elizabeth
Faith and Little Ones:
Read the story of the Visitation aloud from the Bible.
Celebrating Around the Table:
St. Elizabeth Scones: In Endless Song
November 11th: St. Martin of Tours
Celebrating Around the Table:
Make Stuffed Butternut Squash (served in halves like St. Martin’s cloak) recipe in Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year)
Faith and Little Ones:
7 Quick Ways to Celebrate Martinmas: Two Os Plus More
Go through your winter clothes and find items to donate (as St. Martin shared his cloak with the beggar).
November 13th: St. Frances Cabrini
Celebrating Around the Table:
Make Bolognese with Orecchietti: My Catholic Kitchen
Food for Thought:
Paper Boats Filled with Violets: A Story of Mother Cabrini (Cari Donaldson for Catholic Exchange)
November 16th: St. Margaret of Scotland
Celebrating Around the Table:
Learn the Grace After Meals prayer. Today with the Saints shared that St. Margaret encouraged this praying of this prayer. You can find a beautiful free printable of the Grace After Meals at Catholic All Year.
November 17th: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Celebrating Around the Table:
Hungarian Cinnamon Bread: Catholic Cuisine
Book Suggestion:
Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary by Dessi Jackson
November 20th: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Food for Thought:
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe: Catholic Culture
November 21st: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Book Suggestion:
Mary the Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola
November 22nd: St. Cecilia
Faith and Little Ones:
St. Cecelia Glory Story audio CD: Holy Heroes
November 24th: St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions
Celebrating Around the Table:
Make Vietnamese Summer Rolls (recipe in our newest liturgical year ebook: More Feasts!)
November 25th: St. Catherine of Alexandria
Celebrating Around the Table:
St. Catherine of Alexandria’s Miraculous Wheels: In Endless Song
November 27th: First Sunday of Advent
Faith and Little Ones:
Light your first Advent candle.
Begin the St. Andrew Christmas Novena and pray it 15 times from November 30th to Christmas Day. I made a printable you can download for free.
30 Jesse Tree Ornaments to Print and Color: Do Small Things with Great Love
Season of Advent
Superstition, Trust, and Imperfect Prayer: Thoughts on the St. Andrew Christmas Novena: Amongst Lovely Things
How We Celebrate Advent: Carrots for Michaelmas
DIY Advent Countdown Craft: Two Os Plus More
My Eco-Friendly DIY Advent Wreath: Becoming Peculiar
Advent: Nourish Your Spiritual Life and Avoid the Holiday Burnout: Kitchen Stewardship
24 Day Printable Advent Calendar: Audrey Eclectic
Choosing Peace This Advent When You’re a Mom to Littles: Fountains of Home
A Gradual Advent: Franciscan Mom
Free Advent Activities for Kids: Look to Him and Be Radiant
(You can find more resources for observing Advent in our liturgical year ebooks Feast! and More Feasts!)
Advent Music:
Advent Playlist: Wonder: Carrots for Michaelmas
Advent Playlist: Sleepers, Wake!: Carrots for Michaelmas
Book Suggestions:
27 Picture Books for Advent and Christmas: Carrots for Michaelmas (updated)
November 30th: St. Andrew
Celebrating Around the Table:
Make a fish dinner to honor this fisherman disciple. (Our recipe for Tahini Tilapia is in Feast! Real Food, Reflections, and Simple Living for the Christian Year)
Do you have any special traditions for holy days in November? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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