November 4

Overview and calendar context

The date falls in mid-autumn for the Northern Hemisphere and mid-spring for the Southern Hemisphere. Like any fixed calendar date, November 4 carries no intrinsic global meaning but is a focal point for recurring local observances, political events (such as elections in some countries), cultural commemorations and anniversaries of historical incidents.

Notable historical events

• In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter made a breakthrough in the tomb of Tutankhamun, an event widely cited in accounts of modern Egyptology.
• On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, initiating the Iran hostage crisis that lasted into 1981.
• On November 4, 2008, voters in the United States elected Barack Obama as president, a milestone often noted in contemporary political history.

These examples illustrate how individual dates become associated with a mixture of scientific, political and cultural stories that shape public memory.

Observances and uses

Various countries and communities mark particular events on November 4. Local holidays, memorials or civic observances may fall on this date; in many places early November is also a common time for municipal or national elections, civic ceremonies and seasonal festivals tied to harvest or remembrance.

When consulting historical records or planning events, it is useful to remember the calendar context—whether the year was a leap year and which calendar system is being used—since different cultures and historical periods used other calendars with different correspondences to modern dates.