Most of know Memorial Day is a day in which we honor and commemorate current and past soldiers and that we have a day off from work! But do you know how Memorial day started or the history of Memorial Day. I admit it, I really did not have a clue!
Memorial Day traditions have roots all the way back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans held annual days of remembrance for loved ones including soldiers each year. Their graves were adorned with flowers. Public festivals and feasts were held in their honor. One of the first known public tributes to war dead dates back to 431 B.C., when the Athenian general Pericles delivered a funeral oration praising the sacrifice and valor of those killed the Peloponnesian War.
One of the earliest commemorations in the United States was organized freed slaves. Three weeks after the confederate surrender on May 1, 1865 more than 1,000 freed slaves accompanied by regiments of the U.S. colored Troops and a handful of white Charlestonians gathered in camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead. Readings were given, hymns were sung and flowers were strewn around the cemetery.
In May of 1868, General John A. Logan issued a decree that May 30 should become a nationwide day of commemoration for the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the recently ended Civil War. On this day, dubbed Decoration Day, Americans should lay flowers and decorate the graves of the war dead. According to legend May 30 was chosen because it was a rare day that didn’t fall on the anniversary of a Civil War battle. Some historians believe day was chosen to ensure that flowers across the country would be in full bloom.
Even though America embraced the “Decoration Day, it did not become a federal holiday until 1971. For the first 50 years the holiday was used to commemorate only those killed in the Civil War. It wasn’t until World War 1 that the tradition was expanded to include those killed in all wars. Memorial Day was not officially recognized nationwide until the 1970’s when America was deeply involved in the Vietnam War.
For more than a century Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day. In 1968 when the Uniform Monday Holiday went into effect, it officially became Memorial Day and was moved from observing on May 30 to the last Monday in May, regardless of the date.
Memorial Day traditions have evolved since its beginnings more than a 150 years ago. In recent years Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer. Some more formal traditions include flying the American flag at half-staff until noon then raised to the top of staff. Americans are encouraged to pause for a Nation Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 pm local time. A less formal tradition is the Indianapolis 500. This year marks the 103rd time the race will be run to coincide with Memorial Day.
What are your memorial day traditions? Me? Growing up we always visited the cemetery where my grandparents were laid to rest. Today I am spending the day working on some new jewelry designs in preparation of Last Friday, this coming Friday May 31st in Hillsborough, NC. In honor of Memorial Day all “Flag” Resin Rings and all Red, White and Blue Mink Fur Pom-Pom Rings are only $12. Sale is good through May 21st. Visit www.MAEartisanjewelry.etsy.com use code RWB2019 for discount.
To read more about Memorial Day history visit https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-memorial-day
ENJOY!!
cheryl