Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day
The Cenotaph at Whitehall, London on Remembrance Day 2004
Official name	Remembrance Day
Also called	Poppy Day
Observed by	Primarily countries in the Commonwealth of Nations
Type	International
Significance	Commemorates war dead
Observances	Parades, silences
Date	11 November
Next time	11 November 2024 (2024-11-11)
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Armistice Day, Anzac Day, Memorial Day, National Unity and Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.^[1] The day is also marked by war remembrances in several other non-Commonwealth countries. In most countries, Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of First World War hostilities. Hostilities ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War formally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.^[2]

The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day. The initial Armistice Day was observed at Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic"^[3] during the evening hours of 10 November 1919. The first official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace the following morning. During the Second World War, many countries changed the name of the holiday. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations adopted Remembrance Day, while the US chose Veterans Day.^[4]