November 5th, 2026

Return Day in Delaware is a unique, biennial tradition that takes place in Georgetown, Delaware, two days after Election Day. This event, steeped in history dating back to the late 18th century, symbolizes bipartisanship and unity. It is marked by a parade featuring local politicians from both major political parties who ride together in horse-drawn carriages. The highlight of Return Day is the ceremonial "burying of the hatchet" in a sandbox, signifying the end of the election season and the return to cooperative governance. The event also includes the public reading of election results from the Sussex County Courthouse balcony, an act that dates back to a time when citizens had to return to the county seat to hear the results. Return Day is a celebration of civic duty, democratic process, and the peaceful transition or continuation of leadership. It serves as a reminder of the importance of coming together for the common good after the conclusion of often divisive campaigns.

The International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying, is observed on the first Thursday of November to draw attention to the violence and bullying that affect millions of children and young people. UNESCO member states proclaimed the day in 2019, and it was first marked on November 5, 2020. According to UNESCO, nearly one in three students worldwide has been bullied by peers at school at least once in the past month, and social media and messaging apps have carried bullying beyond the classroom into students' phones and homes. Bullying harms mental health, well-being, and learning, and it can push young people to skip or leave school. Schools, teachers, parents, and students mark the day with lessons, workshops, and campaigns that promote kindness, teach safe and responsible online behavior, and show students how to speak up and where to get help. In the United States, the day follows National Bullying Prevention Month, observed every October.

The World Day of Romani Language is observed on November 5 to celebrate the language of the Roma people and to support its preservation. The initiative began in Zagreb, Croatia, where Romani organizations and linguists first marked the date, and at Croatia's proposal UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed November 5 as the World Day of Romani Language in 2015. Romani is an Indo-Aryan language, related to Hindi and Punjabi, brought to Europe by the ancestors of the Roma, who left northern India more than a thousand years ago; along the way it absorbed words from Persian, Armenian, Greek, and many other languages. Today it is spoken in many dialects by millions of people across Europe and the Americas, but it has often been excluded from schools and public life, and some dialects are endangered. The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority, and an estimated one million Americans are of Romani descent. Schools, cultural centers, and Romani communities mark the day with language workshops, readings, music, and educational events that promote respect for Romani culture and the right to learn and use the language.

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed on November 5 to raise awareness of tsunami risks and to promote early warning, preparedness, and public education. The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in December 2015, and it was first observed in 2016. The date honors the Japanese story of "Inamura-no-hi" (the burning of the rice sheaves): during the 1854 Ansei-Nankai earthquake, villager Hamaguchi Goryo set fire to his harvested rice to guide people to high ground and save them from the approaching waves. Tsunamis are series of powerful ocean waves, usually triggered by undersea earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, and they can cross entire oceans in hours. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed more than 225,000 people in over a dozen countries and led to new warning systems around the world. In the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, and the West Coast are most at risk, and NOAA's tsunami warning centers in Alaska and Hawaii monitor the oceans around the clock. Schools and communities mark the day with evacuation drills and lessons on the natural warning signs, such as strong shaking or the sea suddenly pulling back, and on the simple rule to move to high ground right away.