Memorial Day is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom; it is a federal holiday exclusive to the United States. The purpose of this American observance, held on the last Monday of May, is to mourn and honor military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The UK's equivalent day of national remembrance is Remembrance Day, observed annually on November 11th to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. The main commemorations, including wreath-laying ceremonies at the Cenotaph in London and local war memorials, take place on the second Sunday of November, known as Remembrance Sunday. Key traditions include a two-minute silence at 11 a.m. and the wearing of red remembrance poppies.
While both nations set aside a specific time to honor their fallen service members, the holidays are distinct in their historical origins, dates, and cultural customs. The American Memorial Day has evolved to mark the unofficial start of summer, whereas the British Remembrance Day retains a more solemn character rooted in the armistice that concluded the First World War.
