Remembrance Day is a holiday that honors the memory of those who died in World War I (1914-1918), World War II (1939-1945), and later conflicts. In Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it is observed on November 11. The armistice that ended World War I was signed on that date in 1918. In the United Kingdom, the holiday is observed on the Sunday nearest November 11. Remembrance Day is much like the American holiday known as Veterans Day.
Remembrance Day took the place of an older holiday called Armistice Day. In Canada, Armistice Day was changed to Remembrance Day in 1931. In Australia and the United Kingdom, the change took place shortly after World War II.
The red poppy of Flanders Field serves as the symbol of Remembrance Day. Flanders Field is a United States military cemetery near Waregem, Belgium. It contains the bodies of 368 members of the armed forces who died in World War I. Remembrance Day is traditionally honored by observing a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11. This is the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Official funerals for unknown soldiers have also been held on Remembrance Day.
