Remembrance Day

November 11

Remembrance Day is also known as Armistice(a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting) Day or Veterans(former members of the military armed forces, especially those who served during wartime) Day. It is a memorial day to remember the members of the country's armed forces who have died on duty since World War I. It is observed on November 11 to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918. That day, the major hostilities(military actions) of World War I were formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

In the United Kingdom, two minutes of silence are observed on 11 November itself to commemorate(to honour the memory of someone or something with a ceremony) the events. However, the main observance is on the second Sunday of November, Remembrance Sunday. Ceremonies are held at local war memorials, usually organised by local branches of the Royal British Legion – an association for ex-servicemen. Typically, poppy(a flower, with crumpled red petals and a milky juice) wreaths(an ornamental circular band made of plaited flowers and leaves, and used as decoration) are laid by representatives of the Crown and the armed forces. The start and end of the silence is often marked by the firing of a cannon. A minute's or two minutes' silence is also frequently incorporated into church services. Many employers and businesses invite their staff(the employees of a business) and customers to observe the two minutes silence at 11:00 a.m. The main national commemoration is held at Whitehall, in Central London.