November 11 is called Remembrance Day in Canada, the observance corresponding most closely to U.S. Veterans Day.
Canadian Remembrance Day honors members of the Canadian armed forces who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. It is held on November 11 because that date marks the anniversary of the 1918 armistice that ended major hostilities in World War I.
Ceremonies commonly include moments of silence, wreath-laying, military participation, and the wearing of red poppies. The poppy became a major remembrance symbol after its appearance in the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields.”
Remembrance Day is not the same holiday as Canada Day, which celebrates Canadian confederation and national identity. It is also distinct from Victoria Day, which commemorates Queen Victoria’s birthday.