Depending on the country, Remembrance Day is known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day, or Poppy Day. Remembrance Day honors and appreciates the people who serve in the military. Most countries hold Remembrance Day on November 11 each year. That date marks the end of World War I. The United States celebrates Veterans Day each year on November 11. The US originally celebrated Remembrance day, but in 1954 changed the name to Veterans Day.
Remembrance Day may not be celebrated on exactly November 11 in every country, but is often within the same week or on the following Monday. WWI had a massive global impact and each year countries across the globe take a day to remember their fallen countrymen.
Origin Of Remembrance Day
The signing of the peace agreement (armistice) between Germany and the Allies became effective on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918. Armistice Day was the original holiday to honor the end of WWI. Armistice day evolved into different holidays worldwide once World War II began. Each country involved in WWI has since adapted and created new traditions to memorialize Armistice Day. Many countries honor all of their service members, past and present, during November.
Globally, the red poppy is symbolic of the bloodshed of soldiers on the Western Front. The Western Front specifically includes the areas in which the majority of battles were fought during WWI. The Western Front spreads for hundreds of miles from the Swiss border to the North Sea.
Remembrance Day Traditions
After many battles, the countryside that had once been beautiful landscapes had become blown apart, leaving muddy and uneven land. Despite this, bright red Flanders poppies flourished and bloomed in the thousands. Thus, poppies brought hope and renewed inspiration following WWI. “In Flanders Fields” is a famous poem by Lieutenant Colonel John Mcrae, a Canadian doctor who drew inspiration from the sight of the poppies. This poem further inspired American Moina Michael to campaign for the poppy to be adopted as an official symbol of Remembrance.
Poppy decorations are very common in memorial ceremonies across the globe. Hosting parades and other community celebrations are common traditions for several countries to pay tribute to their veterans. Some countries traditionally show their appreciation with a somber day of reflection. Another common tradition is a national two-minutes of silence on November 11 at 11:00a. King George V first held two-minutes of silence to commemorate the first year anniversary of the end of WWI, in 1919.
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Sources: “The Poppy” by The Royal British Legion and National Today
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