French Armistice Day
From LoveToKnow French
French Armistice Day, like Veteran's Day in America, falls on November 11th each year. The day was originally to mark the end of World War I, and therefore to recognize the soldiers who served in that war. Both in France and in America, as well as many other nations, Armistice Day (or Remembrance Day) commemorates the soldiers who served in World War I, but also those who served in subsequent wars.
French Armistice Day History
The end of World War I in France came in November, 1918. For other parts of Europe, the armistice came a few weeks earlier, but the agreement to stop fighting came on November 11th in France. Historians often cite the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918; 11:00 in the morning was chosen as the official time of the armistice in order to further emphasize the date of November 11th by making the time match the date and month.
On November 11, 1918, a treaty was signed in Rethondes, France between German military officials and officials of the allied forces defending Western Europe. This signing of the treaty was the symbolic end of World War I. The day was widely celebrated because not only was it the end of the war, but World War I had been called 'the war to end all wars'. The end of World War I therefore gave people all over Europe and America the feeling that this was the last time their husbands and sons would be going off to war. Of course, World War II would not be long coming, but at the time, WWII was unthinkable.
Armistice Day Holiday
In France, soldiers and their families are rembered by placing French flags on the graves of those who sacrificed their lives. Much like in the US, Armistice Day is a national holiday with banks and public institutions closed. It's worth noting that in France, almost everything is closed on national holidays including grocery and department stores.
In addition to the holiday itself, a widespread French tradition on many holidays is to faire le pont, which literally means 'make the bridge'. This refers to the fact that many national holidays do not naturally fall on a Monday or Friday, and a day off in the middle of the week is not as attractive as having a long weekend. Therefore, many French people (including students) will take an extra day off in order to make a long weekend. For example, if a holiday falls on a Tuesday, many people will take the Monday off as well, creating for themselves a four day weekend. This is called 'making the bridge' between the weekend and the holiday. If you are planning to do any business in France, make sure to keep this in mind.
Remembrance and Homage
French Armistice Day is a day to remember all of the soldiers who fought and died in wars beginning with World War I. Although most people nowadays do not know anyone who was in World War I, there are still plenty of French who had close relatives and friends who did. In France, like in America, there are ceremonies and special events on Armistice Day; however, the majority of the crowd attending these events is aging. Still, the day remains a solemn one, and the national holiday retains its official status in France.
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