November 5, 2015
Commemorating Remembrance Day: Customs and Icons
In less than a week, on November 11, Canadians will gather together from coast to coast to commemorate Remembrance Day. This is a time when the bravery and sacrifice of war veterans is recognized. Whether through a moment of silence or a school assembly, there are many ways to mark the day.
Here are some of the most well-known icons and customs of Remembrance day in Canada:
- Proudly wearing a poppy: Red poppies on coat lapels can be seen all around when late October approaches. You too can get one by making a donation of any amount to the Royal Canadian Legion wherever boxes are located. For more information, click here.
- Observing a moment of silence: On November 11, cities, businesses, and anyone wishing to participate, can hold a moment of silence. Generally, it is held at 11:00 AM to mark the end of fighting in the First World War (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month).
- In Flanders Fields: this has become an iconic poem, composed by John McCrae(a Canadian) during the second Battle of Ypres in 1915. To find out the full history behind it and read it for yourself, click here.
How do you commemorate Remembrance Day? Lest we Forget!