While we remember Remembrance Day have you ever wondered what the Germans do at this 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month? Then here is a report sent to us by an English friend living in German, which we thought might interest you. Chris and Caroline We shall never forget. Sunday will be a double silence, then one at 11:00 local time, and one when on BBC world the UK hold theirs. In Germany today they also have an event, but it is out of traddition completly opposite to the UK. After the end of WW1, the population Were so relieved to have an end of war, that on the 11th of the 11th, at 11:11 Hrs, they cellibrate the start of the Fifth season, which is a start of Carnival, and wil last to the Tuesday before Ash Wednseday, which in 2005 is in February. They see the 11th of November as a time to cellibrate peace, and although they also hold memorial services on the nearest Sunday, either before or after the 11th. A strange thing happened in East Germany, every year the British Army, Air Force and Consular officials held Rememberance day celibrations in the East at British war grave cemetaries. The East German population forbidden from remembering their dead by the Russians were allowed to attend the British events (The US having re-intured their dead back to the states in the 1950s had no such arrangements) under strict observation of plan-clothes Stasi agents in the crowds. Many of the East Germans came to have a great respect and secret like of the UK and our forces, because of our way to remember our dead and never forsake or forget them no matter where in the world they lie. Those who attended regularly risk being hounded by Stasi as possible subversives, either because of their like of military matters, or of religious sevices, or of western ideals. Despite that and attempts to stop them gaining access they came year after year, and stood in silence and respect behind the seperation ropes to both admire the British rememberance, and also to pay their own rememberance of their fallen which was not allowed by the Russians. The Russian ceremonies had their own services, (I think on another day/month) but had considerably less interest, and was also a point of concern to the Communist state, as it showed a form of Popularity chart. So that is my small report on the Germans (and former east Germans) and their November 11th. --- All of our outgoing mail is checked and certified Virus Free by regularl updates Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.788 / Virus Database: 533 - Release Date: 01/11/2004

New web site launched in Canada for Remembrance Day. http://www.ssnerissa.com/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris & Caroline" <chris@chayles.freeserve.co.uk> To: <ENG-SOUTHAMPTON-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 6:06 PM Subject: [ENG-SOU] Remembrance Day....the other side of the fence --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.794 / Virus Database: 538 - Release Date: 11/10/2004