! Murcia Today – Armistice in Spain: Do Spaniards wear poppies and celebrate Remembrance Day?

Many British expats in Spain observe Remembrance Day, but don’t be surprised if you get funny looks from Spaniards for wearing a poppy

November 11 is Remembrance Day or Armistice Day for countries like the UK, Canada and Australia. But which other countries have a Remembrance Day? Is Remembrance Sunday observed in Spain?

Why do we celebrate Remembrance Day?

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day or Poppy Day, is commemorated annually on November 11 in memory of the armistice between Allied forces and Germany during World War I in 1918.

Peace was declared “on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”, which is why on November 11 at 11 a.m. each year we observe a minute of silence to respect and remember those who died in the First World War world and all wars. The Sunday following November 11 is called Remembrance Sunday.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) sells paper and plastic poppies (which are made by disabled former British servicemen), which people wear around this date as a sign of respect. The red poppies, which give Armistice Day its nickname Poppy Day, refer to the red blood shed by fallen soldiers and the poem “In Flanders Fields” where the poppies blow.

Does Spain have a Remembrance Day?

No, Spaniards do not observe Remembrance Day on November 11 and do not wear poppies in November as it is primarily a British Commonwealth tradition. In World War I Spain was neutral and in World War II, when Spain’s fascist dictator was firmly on the side of the Nazis, the country was too poor and destroyed by its own civil war years before to be able to fight. .

The Spaniards are still trying to deal with the aftermath of their 1936-39 civil war and four decades of repressive fascist rule under General Francisco Franco in which thousands of people were murdered. A recent past ‘Law of historical-democratic memory’ aims to finally eradicate the glorification of the military leaders of the time of the dictatorship.

From 2022, the date of October 31 has been reserved as Día de Recuerdo y Homenaje (Day of Remembrance and Tribute) to commemorate the victims of the Spanish Civil War and dictatorship.

Remembrance Day Events in Spain

On the UK and Commonwealth side, the Royal British Legion organizes events and raises funds for the Poppy Appeal in Spain each year. They sell poppies and hold commemorative events like wreath laying and ceremonial observance of a minute’s silence (sometimes at 12pm instead of 11am due to the one hour time difference with the UK), in especially in areas with large expat communities like Torrevieja, benidormthe Costa del Sol and the Region of Murcia.

All the money raised by the RBL in Spain goes to beneficiaries in the country. At the end of each year, any charitable money left over from the Poppy Appeal is paid into the RBL’s welfare fund, returning to the UK where it earns much higher interest, a general policy observed by all overseas branches of the RBL around the world. The majority of former servicemen and female beneficiaries of the Royal British Legion fund in Spain are elderly, but there are also younger applicants.

On this November 11, take a moment to think about those who died in war and those who survived and need help.

We will remember them.

Image: Archive

Such : 0800 307 7773 (from UK) or +44 (0) 207 191 1091 (from abroad)

Membership of the local branch of the Royal British Legion, whose aim is to help provide support to those who have served and their families, is open to all

The Murcia Branch of the Royal British Legion The Royal British Legion is the main charity of the UK Armed Forces and one of its largest membership organisations. Members come together through the network of branches and clubs throughout the country and abroad to participate in social, fundraising and welfare activities. The Murcia branch celebrated its 5th anniversary on April 7, 2022 and looks forward to many more celebrations in the years to come.

The Murcia branch meets every 3 months, alternating between the northern part of the Region of Murcia and the coastal area. Typically, places such as Camposol, Condado de Alhama and soon others are used for meetings near the coast and Bar Laverdero in Cehegin in the north.

The Branch also organizes memorial assemblies for anniversaries of the end of armed conflict such as Armistice Day and the end of the Falkland Islands conflict, these are usually held in the Garden of Remembrance located in the Memorial Park of Camposol on sector A, on Tuesday September 20, 2022, the Branch also organized a very busy event memorial after the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIwho was patron of the Royal British Legion Charity.

The Murcia Branch of the Royal British Legion A high-profile activity carried out by members of the Murcia branch is to hold the poppy tables at various locations in the region in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day. The Royal British Legion’s iconic red poppy is a symbol of both remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a sign of support for the Armed Forces community. The poppy is a well-known and established symbol with a rich history and meaning.

Membership is fully inclusive and open to everyone, whether or not they have a service history. If you are interested in the aims of the Legion and want to help support those who served and their families, why not come join us.

Legion membership ensures that:

The memory is kept alive and the sacrifices made by our brave military men and women are never forgotten.

The ex-military community has a voice and their concerns are made known to the public.

The Murcia Branch of the Royal British Legion Becoming a member also offers the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities and events organized locally, regionally and nationally throughout the year.

Members of the Murcia committee bring a variety of skills and experiences to the team here, which will hopefully make membership rewarding and fun. Our aim is to provide fundraising activities that provide social and interesting opportunities to meet and support the charity while providing support to the service community and their families here in Spain.

What is not commonly known is that all the money collected in Spain stays in Spain.

If you would like to join the Murcia branch or if you are already a member and would like to add the Murcia branch to your membership, please use the link below:

If you have any problems with the online process, please telephone the UK membership team on:

0800 307 7773 (from UK) or +44 (0) 207 191 1091 (from abroad)

About the Royal British Legion

The Murcia Branch of the Royal British Legion We provide financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the UK Armed Forces – past and present, and their families. The Legion is also the national guardian of remembrance and protects the military pact between the nation and its armed forces and is best known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.

Founded in 1921, the Legion is not only about those who fought in the world wars of the last century, but also those who have participated in the many conflicts since 1945 and those who are still fighting for the freedom we enjoy today.

The Murcia branch was established in 2017 and celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2022.

Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for more details on our national initiatives.

If you would like to contact them RBL Murcia Branch, please email murcia.secretary@rbl.community