When Did Remembrance Day Start?

Remembrance Day (originally Armistice Day) was first observed on 11 November 1919 — the first anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I hostilities on the Western Front (11 Nov 1918, 11:00 AM).

Key Moments

• 1919: King George V inaugurated the Two Minutes' Silence at 11 AM; observed across the British Empire.
• 1920: The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London (designed by Lutyens) became the focal point; Unknown Warrior interred in Westminster Abbey same day.
• Post-WWII: Renamed Remembrance Day (or Remembrance Sunday — nearest Sunday to Nov 11) to honor all war dead.
• Commonwealth: Canada, Australia, NZ, South Africa, etc., observe Nov 11 (or nearest Sunday) with similar ceremonies.

The red poppy (inspired by McCrae's "In Flanders Fields") became the enduring symbol from 1921 onward.