Remembrance Day
 

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 5. (November 2009).


Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, is commonly observed on the 11th day of November to mark the day World War I ended ninety-one years ago, in 1918. On or near this day, nine nations memorialize the sacrifices of both civilians and members of the armed forces in times of war, with special events such as parades and moments of silence.

On Remembrance Day many people wear paper poppies, small red flowers with black centers, as a symbol of remembrance. The red color of the poppy is a suitable representation of the bloodshed of past wars, but was chosen because it was inspired by John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
– from In Flanders Fields, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD, Canadian Army

When is Remembrance Day in your country, and what is it called?
Australia: 11 November, Remembrance Day
Bermuda: 11 November, Remembrance Day
Canada: 11 November, Remembrance Day
France: 11 November, Armistice Day
New Zealand: 11 November, Armistice Day
South Africa: 11 November, Poppy Day
United Kingdom: The 2nd Sunday of November, Remembrance Sunday
United States: 11 November, Veterans Day