Across much of the world on Wednesday, flags were lowered, ceremonies were held, and moments of silence were observed. November 11 marks Armistice Day, the anniversary of the agreement that ended the fighting of the First World War in 1918, and 108 years later it remains one of the most widely observed days of remembrance anywhere.
The armistice that ended the First World War took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, a detail that gave the date its enduring symbolism. The war had killed millions of soldiers and civilians across Europe and beyond, and when the guns finally fell silent, nations on both sides began marking the date annually, even before the war's broader peace treaties were finalized the following year.
Over the following century, the day took on different names and slightly different meanings in different countries. In France and Belgium, it is still called Armistice Day and remains a national public holiday marked by ceremonies at war memorials. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth nations, the nearest Sunday is often observed as Remembrance Day, with the red poppy as its enduring symbol. In the United States, the day evolved into Veterans Day, broadened after the Second World War and the Korean War to honor all military veterans rather than only those of the First World War.
Despite those differences, the core of the day has stayed remarkably consistent: a pause to remember those who served and died in war, and a reminder of how costly large scale conflict between nations can be. Ceremonies at national monuments, cemeteries, and town squares are expected in dozens of countries today, from Washington to Paris to Canberra.
Why is the date November 11 significant?
The armistice ending fighting in World War One took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, giving the date its lasting symbolism.
Is Armistice Day the same as Veterans Day?
They share the same origin, but Veterans Day in the United States was later broadened to honor all military veterans, not only those of World War One.