St. Margaret of Scotland, November 16
An English princess who took refuge in Scotland, Margaret (c. 1045-1093) married King Malcolm III. She reformed the Scottish Church, founded abbeys and fed the poor at her own table each day. She is the patron of Scotland; St. Gertrude the Great is also remembered today.
On the General Roman Calendar, November 16 is an optional memorial: Saint Margaret of Scotland.
Other saints on November 16
- St. Gertrude the Great, mystic of Helfta (1302)
Name days on November 16
In countries that keep name days, November 16 is the day for people named Margaret, Maggie, Peggy, and Gertrude. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Margaret | November 16 |
| Maggie | November 16 |
| Peggy | November 16 |
| Gertrude | November 16 |
November 16 on the calendar
November 16 is the 320th day of the year (the 321st in a leap year), with 45 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping November 16
November 16 falls in November, the month the Church dedicates to praying for the dead. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Margaret, Maggie, Peggy, and Gertrude, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around November 16
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| November 13 | St. Frances Xavier Cabrini |
| November 14 | St. Lawrence O’Toole |
| November 15 | St. Albert the Great |
| November 17 | St. Elizabeth of Hungary |
| November 18 | St. Rose Philippine Duchesne |
| November 19 | St. Mechtilde |
The day before, November 15, is the day of St. Albert the Great. The day after, November 17, belongs to St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.