General Chat

I'm sure Sylvia will confirm as I said the main services were held on the 11th but it's not a public holiday. :-)

Caroline, as I was a war baby, it goes without saying that I remember various closing times for shops.

I realise that not every religion holds Sunday as the day of worship which only goes to add to my point that 11/11 should be the day on which Remembrance Services are held. I have not forgotten that among the white crosses there are white Stars of David, for instance.

As Guinevere points out, some people don't like marching, some don't wear poppies - some of my own ancestors fell into those categories - regardless of what day ceremonies are held.

I believe we should treat that particular date as special, not the nearest Sunday that suits the people in any particular area.

I await Sylvia's information as I mentioned previously.

Joy, I think you are confusing Armistice Day with Remembrance Sunday. Armistice Day commemorates the signing of a document bringing an end to hostilities. Remembrance Day is to remember all those who gave their lives. There is no reason not to commemorate both as far as I can see.

I definitely wouldn't like to see 11th November as a Bank Holiday. That was done with Whitsun and now very few people even realise it is a religious day, it's just a May bank holiday.

Kath. x

We didn't go to a service but we stood in silence on the 11th in Tesco together with everybody else in the shop, nobody spoke, it is a big Tesco extra, the tills stopped and the bugles played the last post. actually the way they did it we were silent for 4 minutes, but no worries about that.

then this morning we were in a garden centre in the cafe and they had two minutes silence also, this was done beautifully using the radio with Big Ben and then the buglers. I was very impressed on a table near to us were three adults and four children under about 7 and none of those children uttered a squeak, one was only about 3, he put his fingers in his ears at big ben and the buglers but he sat absolutely still once his Mum put her finger to her lips.

Guinevere mentioned bank holiday running into Christmas shopping, but I agree with her on that point.

The trollies on Sunday...I well remember no shopping on Sundays and we survived and early closing Wednesday was it...and forget 24 hr stores..we managed seems they can't now.....as for going to Church on a Sunday...not everyone is a religious person or their religion isn't one which has Sunday as the day to worship.

Anytime from a few weeks back is a shopping bonanza trips to the US even before Black Friday.

I totally agree we should have a National holiday for the 11th but I don't think we should as it would mean less observing and more shopping such is life these days, even though they'd only have to take an hour or so out of their shopping day to attend !

Pushing their trollies around as they do on Sundays?

It is difficult to find a parking space on Saturdays and Sundays at our local shopping centre.

Since you mention a bank/national holiday on 11 November running into a Christmas shopping bonanza, it would be interesting to know whether that happens in Canada.

Perhaps Sylvia may let us know.

However, Caroline, you mention that there were services last Sunday for some but the main ones were on the 11th. The Remembrance services in our area took place today, 13th.

Don't you find that odd? It's as if the day is moved to suit someone. 11/11 should be a revered day in our history not a date that can be moved at whim.

When I worked in an open plan office, trying to keep two minutes silence was horrendous!
I used to take my phone off the hook - got into trouble for that from my line manager :-|
Then there would be the idiot who, even though he was told by at least 3 of us, that we were going to remain silent at 11am, would insist on talking loudly on the phone, try to speak to us, or tell a joke.

Obviously there's no way of knowing if they're showing respect in their own way, but it would be a good bet they're not if they're more intent on pushing their overloaded trolley around Walmart for instances.

I think a bank holiday would turn into a Christmas shopping bonanza rather than remembrance.

Some people don't like the marching and some don't wear poppies. It doesn't mean they aren't remembering in their own way.

Holding the main services on a Sunday do make it easier for those who want to attend.

There were services last Sunday for some but the main ones were on the 11th BUT it's not a National holiday unless you're a Government worker you have to take a day off work to attend.
Schools will hold assemblies but they fit it into their routine, therefore most of them are before 11 in the morning on the 11th, as they're gearing up for lunch break any time after 11.
Here I think most parents wouldn't attend any service on the 11th with their children, many don't bother even with a poppy, and as I said many don't observe the 2 mins silence even.

Sylvia wrote that all of the Canadian services were held on 11 November.

Commendable, I thought, as with Anzac Day.

No shifting the date around to suit business there.

Everyone doesn't attend a ceremony now Caroline, although the vast majority of people will stand for two minutes at 11 am on 11 November. They won't be asked to stand for two minutes on 13th or 9th for instance.

I believe it is much more appropriate to have the ceremony on the correct day and that is why I believe it ought to be a national holiday.

I'm afraid I don't understand your comment, 'At least this way schools hold assemblies albeit not always at 11.'

Our local primary school had a poppy seller there this week but I bet there are few of those children attending Remembrance Services today, yet, if we stuck to 11/11, I believe more children would appreciate exactly what the day meant.

Canada doesn't have a National holiday on the 11th but Government is closed for the day. Schools etc are open. If there were a public holiday I doubt everyone would attend a ceremony for instance most Government workers in Canada go shopping. The only "good" part is most public places will ask you to stop and remember at 11 but not all. Public transit will stop at the nearest station/stop. That said many still go on shopping to their hearts content. At least this way schools hold assemblies albeit not always at 11.

I don't think it at all inappropriate to have a bank holiday (ie a national holiday) on 11 November.

A new national holiday has been on the agenda for several years and I can think of nothing better than 11/11 as people will be in a position to attend services on the correct day.

Did you read Sylvia's comment about Canadian Services on 11 November?

In Australia, Anzac Day is the day of recognition and it is always 25 April - never moved to suit business hours.

If other countries can recognise the debt they owe on the correct day, why shouldn't we?

I agree Barbra I think it would be very inappropriate to have a bank holiday on 11/11. I held my two minutes silence Friday Saturday and Sunday morning

I was proud to watch & observed the two Minutes silence Today also on The11th .think its up to us a Nation to thank all the People who lost their lives in The wars & other Conflicts .we are here because of them & today they are still defending our shores .be it Army. Navy .Air force ..police . 1945-2016 we will remember them .& forever more . <3 As for Bank Holiday 11-11 a bit inappropriate for such a time in our History .Barbra

People do still observe the 2 minute silence on the 11th, but having Rememberance Sunday (the nearest Sunday to the 11th) means more people can attend services. As Guinevere says, it was moved in 1945.

Kath. x

It was moved in 1945 so as not to interrupt workers rebuilding the country.

JoyLouise - spot on!

Why, when the eleventh day of the eleventh month is a memorable date in our calendar, do people insist on 'celebrating' on the nearest weekend/Sunday to that date?

We all know why 11/11 is significant.

It is a day of reflection, a day we should remember with sorrow so many lost lives, a day to think of sacrifice, a day of conflicting emotions of sadness and joy for those lost and those who returned.

It is THE day to remember.

It ought not to be a moveable day at all for there is no real reason for making it so.

If the UK is still seeking a suitable date for a new bank holiday why can't the 11/11 be it?

sorry ............ I have deleted my message. It wasn't what you would want to hear.


I hope all goes well at the Cenotaph Services in the UK on Sunday


All ours were held on Friday, November 11