November 3 is a day for two things we lean on all the time without thinking twice: the sandwich, the most reliable lunch ever invented, and the cliché, the most reliable phrase ever repeated. One fills you up, the other fills the silence, and both have surprisingly good backstories.
National Sandwich Day
National Sandwich Day falls on November 3, the birthday of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, born in 1718. As the popular story goes, the Earl asked for meat tucked between two slices of bread so he could keep playing cards, or keep working, without stopping for a proper meal. The first known written use of the word "sandwich" in its food sense comes from the historian Edward Gibbon, who mentioned men eating "a bit of cold meat, or a Sandwich" in his journal on November 24, 1762. People had been putting food between bread long before that, of course, but the Earl is the one whose name stuck.
😄 Fun fact: The family still has skin in the game: the 11th Earl of Sandwich and his son co-founded a restaurant chain called Earl of Sandwich in 2004, which means the sandwich business has technically been in the family for over 260 years.
Ways to celebrate:
- Build the sandwich of your dreams and give it a name worthy of an earl.
- Try a sandwich from another country, like a Cuban, a bánh mì or a torta.
- Treat a coworker to lunch, since sandwiches always taste better when someone else made them.
Cliché Day
Cliché Day is a tongue-in-cheek holiday on November 3 that invites you to notice, enjoy, or gently retire the phrases we all use too often. Nobody knows exactly who started it, which feels fitting for a day about sayings with no clear owner. The word itself comes from French printing. A cliché was a metal printing plate used to reproduce the same text or image over and over, and the name is said to imitate the clicking sound of the mold striking the metal. English borrowed the printing term in the 1800s, and by 1888 it had taken on the meaning we use today: a phrase repeated so often it has lost its spark.
😄 Fun fact: Calling today's pairing "the best thing since sliced bread" would be a cliché about a sandwich, and sliced bread was not even sold until 1928, so the saying is younger than your grandma's favorite recipe.
Ways to celebrate:
- Write a short story using as many clichés as you can, then read it out loud.
- Try the opposite challenge and go a whole day without a single cliché.
- Play cliché bingo during your next meeting and see who wins first.
What is your go-to sandwich, and which cliché do you catch yourself saying way too often? Tell us in the comments.
At the end of the day, and yes, that is a cliché, a good sandwich and a well-worn phrase both get the job done.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is National Sandwich Day on November 3?
It marks the birthday of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, born on November 3, 1718, the man the sandwich is named after.
Did the Earl of Sandwich really invent the sandwich?
Not exactly. People ate food between bread long before him, but the name comes from the Earl, and the word "sandwich" first appeared in writing in 1762.
Where does the word cliché come from?
It comes from French printing, where a cliché was a metal plate used to print the same text again and again. The name is said to imitate the click of the mold striking the metal.
How do you celebrate Cliché Day?
Some people pack their conversations with as many clichés as possible, while others try to avoid them for a full day. Either way, it is a fun way to notice how we talk.
What if today is my birthday?
Happy birthday! November 3 birthdays fall under Scorpio, with topaz and citrine as birthstones and the chrysanthemum as the birth flower. Find gift ideas matched to your date in our Birthday Gift Finder.
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November 3 Other Celebrations
World Jellyfish Day 🪼 Jellyfish have been drifting through the oceans for more than 500 million years, which makes them older than the dinosaurs. They manage all of that without a brain, using a network of nerves spread through the body instead, and aquariums around the world celebrate them today with special exhibits.
National Housewife's Day 🏡 This day honors the work of running a home, from meal planning to keeping a whole family's schedule straight, whoever happens to be doing it. A thank you, a cooked dinner, or simply doing the dishes without being asked is a great way to mark it.
Give Someone a Dollar Day 💵 It is exactly what it sounds like: hand someone a dollar and make their day a little brighter. It is a small gesture, but a surprise dollar for a tip jar, a lemonade stand or a friend tends to get a big smile.
🎂 If Your Birthday Is Today
Born on November 3? In numerology, 3 is the number of creativity, self-expression and joy. Paired with Scorpio's depth and determination, you get someone who can light up a room and still keep a few fascinating secrets.
Your zodiac stone is topaz, and November's birthstones are topaz and citrine, so a November Scorpio gets a perfect double match. Topaz has long been linked with strength and clarity, and citrine with warmth and abundance. Your birth flower is the chrysanthemum, a cheerful bloom that stands for joy and optimism.
Looking for a gift that ties it all together? Warm golden topaz jewelry or citrine jewelry matches both the sign and the month, a pot of chrysanthemums brightens any November doorstep, and Scorpio zodiac gifts keep it personal. Add our own Scorpio constellation birthday card, gold stars on deep navy, printed and mailed or as an instant download you can send today.
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