Today is Armistice Day – 11th November. It is Bank Holiday in France. This day holds major significance for the French and it has a place of its own among the many festivals and events in France.
It is celebrated with parades and religious ceremonies, and French flags fly everywhere. There is a traditional wreath laying ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and cemeteries all over the country are decorated with fresh flowers and flags.
You can also see many veterans of the armed forces out and about on Armistice Day – either in parades or just out on the street.
The ashes of an unknown soldier from WWI were placed under the Arc de Triomphe in 1921. On his tombstone is engraved:
“Ici repose un soldat français mort pour la patrie 1914-1918” (Here lies a soldier who died for his country 1914-1918)
The Flame of Remembrance was placed on his grave and lit on this day in 1923. The flame burns in memory of those who died in both world wars who were never identified. The flame is rekindled every evening at 6.30 pm.