Remembrance Day
 

Today 11th November is a stat holiday in Alberta and all the remembrance services are held today. At 11am we will stand for two minutes in Remembrance. Over in Ottawa and throughout the world our Prime Minister and all other world leaders will do the same.

So why does the UK have all the major Remembrance day services with the Royal Family and politicians at the Cenotaph on the sunday nearest to 11th.?

Why did some one decide that a Sunday near to 11th is better than the actual day. 16 million people died in WW1 and so why did someone say 'we will remember you on a day close by?

this post is not intended to upset or offend anyone, I just would like to know why and I am sure someone on the expats site will know.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

I always thought that the services were held on the nearest Sunday so that more people could join in, maybe without the need for declaring a public holiday. Less traffic for processions to Cenotaphs, no need to take off work etc. From being a kid, I always watched the service from the Royal Albert Hall, went to special Church services on the Sunday but always - and still do - go somewhere quiet at 11am on the 11th for reflection and to give thanks for those who gave to us.

I find it incredibly sad and hurtful that kids and young people either don't know or don't care about this important date.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Do you know that to be the case?

Re: Remembrance Day
 

When my son went to School in Toronto (JK & SK) they learned about remembrance Day unfortunately it's not even mentioned in school here.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

I suspect you are right. But why not take a day of work, make it a bank holiday!

i just think it is very sad that bank holidays are at other times of year for religious and other reasons, but something as so important as this is not in the UK a bank holiday list.

I do not know how many people died from the UK in the first world war but I am sure if we add to the Second World War and all other conflicts including over 230 people recently in Afghanistan, we are talking a lot of millions!

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Finger trouble - this is in response to dbd33.

Sadly, and in general, yes.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Remembrance day would be a fitting & noble reason to insert a much needed public holiday into what is the longest run without a holiday in the whole year i.e late summer bank holiday to Christmas day, this year amounting to nearly 21 weeks!

I would still keep Remembrance Sunday though as the main day for parades etc.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Many, many Albertans don't take this day as intended but instead trade it for an extra day off at Christmas.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Sorry is that not missing the point. Have a day off on the 11th as break in a long spell without one, but still have the parades on the Sunday.

'If we have an extra day off we don't want to waste it going to a parade' attitude.

When I lived in the UK i was in Met Police and so of course worked many Remembrance sundays. I thought they were great, good, etc. But when I moved to Cochrane I found it more profound. The schools did a service the day before (they are off on the 11th) all the offices have remembrance wreaths, and in the first year i was here 10% of the town went to the service and did the march to the war memorial. I just thought 10% was a lot more than what i had seen in the UK services.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Somebody answered this question already. It's cos they didn't want to shut production down in the UK during the second world war. And really does it matter? The 16 million dead don't know one way or the other do they.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

That is their choice, but the banks, buisnesses, schools are all shut today.

Shops are going to stay open, but that happens every where now in the world. It is only a matter of time that we can all go shopping at Walmart or Marks and Spencers on Christmas day.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Thanks, I suppose it made sense at that time.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

I don't see this as a problem. For some these days are important, for others they aren't.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

But not in Canada. As Elaine said, children are taught the reason for remembrance day in schools.

Re: Remembrance Day
 

Christmas Day is specific to religion (doesn't stop people who aren't part of that religion taking advantage of it though does it?). As for Armistice Day being remembered - I say most definitely and it's an insult to those who died in all the wars not to.

16.5 million dead is for WW1 only, add to that the 70 million or so in WW2 plus subsequent wars and that's not counting the millions injured.