What is it about November

that compels the undertaking of challenges, ludicrous and even more so?

I mean NaNoWriMo kicks off on Monday. As does Movember. I'm also contemplating doing another National Poetry Challenge, which would mean 30 poems in 30 days.

Why? What it is about these 30 days? Is it some sort of crazy attempt to pack more into shorter days? Some sort of throw down to a pagan god, to say, 'Ha! Your darkness cannot stop my writing and / or tache!'? An attempt to forget about Christmas?

I am genuinely intrigued by this. Any ideas?