November Traditions: Catholic families focus on prayer and gratitude

In Wisconsin, the shortening days and dropping temperatures create a specific rhythm for late November. One local parent describes this period as a time to slow down and focus on the interior life of the home. The goal is to avoid starting the new year feeling unsettled or remorseful about the time that passed.

The author identifies November as a period with three distinct spiritual themes. It serves as the Month of the Holy Souls. It is the month for Thanksgiving. And it leads directly into the start of Advent. The family uses these three themes to structure their activities during the month.

To keep the memory of the departed present, the family uses a jar filled with popsicle sticks. Each stick carries the name of a deceased relative or friend. Members of the household take turns pulling a name from the jar and praying for that specific soul. Photos of loved ones who have passed away are also displayed in the home to prompt remembrance.

A cemetery visit is recommended as a concrete way to honor the dead. The author advises visiting a specific grave or walking the rows to pray for the names seen on the headstones. A plenary indulgence for the holy souls in purgatory is available for those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead between November 1 and November 8, provided the usual requirements for the indulgence are met.

Gratitude is treated as an active practice rather than a passive feeling. For young children, the family builds a paper chain throughout the month. Each link of the chain holds one thing the child is grateful for. Older children maintain a journal where they record one daily blessing. This tangible tracking of blessings aims to ground the family in a sense of thanksgiving beyond the single day of the holiday.

Preparation for Advent begins early to manage the workload of the season. The family buys Advent candles early and completes a portion of gift shopping and wrapping before the main holiday rush. This strategy is intended to free up time for reflection. The author notes that children observe where parents direct their attention and effort during this busy period.

The family incorporates prayer into standard holiday tasks. Baking cookies and decorating the tree are accompanied by meditation on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Images of the Holy Family and the nativity are placed in the Christmas decorations. These small actions are meant to keep the focus on the birth of Jesus Christ.

The author advises against filling the calendar with too many obligations. Instead, the recommendation is to choose one or two intentional practices for each of the three November themes. Simple and consistent actions are viewed as more meaningful than a crowded schedule of activities.

The final aim of these traditions is to spend more time growing closer to God. The practices are designed to help the family navigate the transition from the remembrance of November into the anticipation of Advent. The season is treated as an opportunity for spiritual growth rather than just a period of festivity.