回复: Remembrance Day
國殤紀念日(英文:Remembrance Day)訂立於每年的11月11日,為一個紀念在第一次世界大戰、第二次世界大戰和其他戰爭中犧牲的軍人與平民的紀念節日。
第一個國殤日於1919年在整個英聯邦舉行,原稱「停戰日」(英文:Armistice Day),於1919年11月7日由英王喬治五世創立,紀念第一次世界大戰於1918年11月11日上午11時結束。不同的地方對節日有著不同的稱呼:
國殤紀念日流行於澳洲,加拿大與英國;
虞美人花日(英文:Poppy Day)通用於馬爾他和南非;
退伍軍人日(英文:Veterans Day)為美國人的稱呼;
日本人將德文的「Volkstrauertag 」翻譯為國民哀悼日(日文:国民哀悼の日)專指德國的國殤紀念日;
在法國、紐西蘭以及其他英聯邦國家則稱之為停戰日(英文:Armistice Day),這也是節日本來的名稱,為國際通用。
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognised as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month," 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) World War I officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.[1]
The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance for members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.[2]
The Initial or Very First Armistice Day was held 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 November 10, 1919. The First Official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the Grounds of Buckingham Palace on the Morning of November 11, 1919. This would set the trend for a day of Remembrance for decades to come.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields". These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.