Remembrance Day: The thinker’s holiday
Cats: Uncategorized|You don’t really celebrate Remembrance Day. You observe it.
Here, we do that by shutting everything down: offices, stores, mail delivery. We have 11 am-ceremonies in public parks with aging, medal-bedecked veterans, flags and bagpipes. These are nice community gatherings.
I like this holiday because there’s nothing commercial about it, no gift pressure, no requirement to have turkey, no radio ads shouting at you to “Come on out for Remembrance Day mattress madness!”
I don’t think you’re supposed to wish people “Happy Remembrance Day.” I guess it’s an introspective holiday. You don’t have to say anything. You’re just supposed to think about things.
Growing up here, I always assumed Remembrance Day was observed with a public holiday everywhere. I was amazed to discover the November 11th is not a public holiday a place like Britain which was pounded in WWII by the Blitz. They do their remembering on the nearest Sunday.
God knows, we’re steamrolling into the Mother of all commercial holidays. You have to like a nice understated holiday like this. There aren’t enough of them.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I was amazed to find out it was a public holiday elsewhere. Its not in Ontario, and I think it really should be.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Sadly, it is not an understated holiday here. Oh yes the schools are closed and many people get the day off work, but many stores are having big blowout Remembrance Day sales.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Allison, it’s funny how you just assume these things.
barbara, they should be sued for that sort of thing. It is the height of disrespect.
Or so says I.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Allison, it should say how “one” just assumes these things. Not you personally
November 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I was a very proud YAM yesterday when we took the opportunity to drive into the city to meet up with our two oldest yard apes to attend the ceremony at the Grand Parade. Not only did our two boys attend, but they had five others in tow. Sometimes I wonder if they realize how lucky they are to have their freedom, etc. and then on days like yesterday I realize that “they get it”.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Strangely someone did wish me a “happy rememberance day”
Birthday or New Years day sure, Nov 11th not so much…
November 14th, 2008 at 9:40 am
YAM, I was right around there at that time, but not at the ceremony itself, although one of my offspring was. And yes, it’s nice to see kids getting it.
TagBagger, that’s like someone wishing someone a warm “Holocaust Survivors Day”