Remembrance Day
November 11th is Remembrance Day in Canada.The country honours those who died in wars. Many communities have ceremonies. At 11:00 A.M. , everyone is silent for two minutes.
World War I ended on November 11th, 1918. The armistice ~ the agreement ending the war ~ was signed that morning. The fighting ended at 11:00 AM that day. It was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
After the war, many countries celebrated November 11th. In English speaking countries , it was called Armistice Day. In 913, the canadian Parliament changed the holiday’s name to Remembrance Day.
As Canadian fought in more wars, the purpose of Remembrance Day changed. It was no longer only a reminder of the end of World War I .It became a day to honour all people who died in wars.
The Poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day. During World War I, a Canadian army doctor named John McCrae wrote a poem about poppies growing in a cemetery. This poem – “In Flanders Fields” became very famous. Now, poppies remind many people of those who died in wars. Around November 11th, they wear artificial poppies to honour those dead.
