thE NinTh mOnth.'!

November is the eleventh month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in almost all the
world today. It takes its name from novem, the Latin word for nine. In the early Roman calendar, November was
the ninth month. Because July was named for Julius Caesar and August for Augustus Caesar, the Roman Senate
offered to name the eleventh month for Tiberius Caesar. He refused modestly, saying, "What will you do if you
have thirteen emperors?" Originally there were 30 days in November, then 29, then 31. From the time of
Augustus, it has had 30 days.

November comes between autumn and winter. In the North Temperate regions during November, the trees are
bare, and the dead leaves on the earth have lost the brilliant color they had in October. Soft snow seldom hides
the bareness of the fields, but the grays and browns of the landscapes are sometimes relieved by delightful days
of hazy sunshine. The Anglo-Saxons referred to November as "the wind month" and sometimes "the blood
month," probably because during this period they killed animals for their winter meat.