November 11 is Remembrance Day in Canada.

A national public holiday, Remembrance Day is celebrated at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It originally commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, at 11 am.

Beginning about two weeks before Remembrance Day, you’ll notice many Canadians sporting bright red poppy pins on their left lapels.

Every year at the end of October, the Royal Canadian Legion, Canada’s largest veterans services organization, begins selling poppies (by donation) all across the country. Long a symbol of remembrance in other countries, the poppy became Canada’s official Remembrance Day icon in 1921.

The annual poppy campaign is designed to honor the 117,000 Canadian service people who have lost their lives in military operations around the world. The money raised provides assistance to veterans and their families.

Many cities across Canada hold Remembrance Day celebrations, with the largest event in Ottawa, the national capital.

Canadian banks, offices, schools, and many businesses are all closed in honor of the holiday.

While November 11 is also celebrated as Veterans Day in the U.S., it seems like a bigger deal in Canada. Perhaps it’s because you see all those poppies…

Photo by striatic (flickr)