Travelling is not only about taking pretty pictures and meeting exciting new people, of course we all also want to learn something about the country and culture we stay in.
Therefore Public Holidays are just the perfect opportunity to widen our horizon and learn about what people are actually celebrating or thinking of.
As you might know and surely must have noticed when walking through town, next Monday is Remembrance Day. This is not only a topic we should gather some information about, because we are currently staying in Canada, but also because this is a topic each and everyone should keep in mind and think about from time to time. Therefore here some helpful information about what this day is all about.
Starting from scratch, the Remembrance day, or earlier known as the Armistice Day marks the end of hostilities during First World war. It is a day remembering all the fallen soldiers, not the victory or any political and/or military events.
Nowadays it’s not only supposed to remind on First World War, but all Wars!
Because it is and always will be very important to remember all the horror and grief wars drag along. Nobody should ever forget, how hard times like these effected each and everyones life. Even though the first world is long gone, we should think about it from time to time and never get lazy speaking about it.
Most ceremonies in Canada include certain things, like two minutes of silence, the playing of the ‘Last Post’, the recitation of ‘In Flanders Fields’, and the wearing of Poppies. ‘In Flanders Fields’ is a poem written by a Canadian soldier and became one of the most famous symbols of First World War. The poem embodies the sadness, the loss of loved ones, the worries, but also the faith that needs to be kept up. Within the poem John McCrae mentioned the Poppies, which were found on most of the western front. Throughout the bombed and destroyed landscape the poppies were the only thing giving colour to this tragic scenery. Later on the blood-red poppies overgrew many mass graves and therefore they became more and more symbolic for the fallen soldiers and tragedy of First World War.
Almost in every part of Vancouver you will find different ceremonies, concerning this very important day. In downtown you’ll get one at the Cenotaph Victory Square (located on the corner of West Hastings Street and Cambie), starting about 9:45 am. Afterwards there will be a big parade.
Another big ceremony will take place in Stanley Park at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial, starting at 10:40 am.
As this is a public holiday, I hope you’ll have a great day off and spent your free-time wisely, thinking about this very serious and important topic.
Cheers,
— Nadja
International Village,
Suite 2077, 2079 – 88 West Pender Street
Vancouver, Canada -V6B 6N9-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Email: pr@internexcanada.com
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