Why is November 11 a public holiday?

November 11 has been a public holiday in France since the law of October 24, 1922. A date chosen in reference to the signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918, which marks the end of the First World War.

• What happened on November 11, 1918?

On November 11, 1918, at 5:15 a.m., the Armistice was signed by representatives of the Allies (France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States) as well as those of the German army, in the dining car of Marshal Foch's staff train then in the heart of the Compiègne forest, in the Oise.

This agreement puts an end to the First World War, which left, in four years, more than 9 million dead and missing, including 1.4 million in France, and more than 21 million injured, including 4 million in France. .

The Treaty of Versailles, which definitively marked the end of the war, was not signed until June 28, 1919.

• Since when is this day a public holiday?

This public holiday was established by the law of October 24, 1922 dedicated to the commemoration of victory and Peace.

But since the law of February 28, 2012, the ceremonies of November 11 also allows you to make tribute to all those who “died for France”, civilian or military, who perished in current or former conflicts. Thus, those who perished during external operations (OPEX) are also affected by these commemorations.

During this day, ceremonies are organized throughout France.

• What is the story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

In Paris, the President of the Republic places a tricolor wreath at the foot of the statue of Georges Clemenceau (Minister of War and President of the Council in 1918). The Head of State then goes up the Champs-Élysées, escorted by several cavalrymen of the Republican Guard, to pay his respects at the tomb of the unknown soldier, under the Arc de Triomphe..

The body of this unidentified soldier was chosen from among those found on the front to be placed in a tomb, and to constitute a place of national contemplation in memory of all the “Poilus” who fell on the battlefields.

• Why is the cornflower the symbol of this day?

During the commemorations of 11-Novemberthe President of the Republic but also other officials wear a cornflower in their buttonhole.

Several hypotheses exist regarding the origin of this tradition. In the trenches, the new soldiers were nicknamed the “Blueberries”, in reference to their blue uniform. Furthermore, this flower would have been one of the only ones to have continued to grow on the battlefields.

It was in 1925 that hecomes a badge, at the initiative of two nurses, Charlotte Malleterre and Suzanne Leenhardt, who created the “Bleuet de France”, in order to raise funds to help those injured in the Great War.

The cornflower has since become a symbol of national solidarity with veterans and war victims..

• Who was the last “Poilu”?

The last Poilu still alive was Lazare Ponticelli. He died in March 2008, in Kremlin-Bicêtre, at the age of 110.

Born on December 7, 1897 in Italy, in Emilia Romagna, he joined the Foreign Legion at the age of 16 and fought for France.

Until the end of his life, Lazare Ponticelli wanted to pass on his testimony of the Great War to younger generations and to participate in the November 11 ceremonies.

When he died, he received a state funeral at Les Invalides.