The term decoration day gradually morphed into memorial day a title which itself dated back to 1882 but the name change was only recognised in the 1960s.
Decoration day to memorial day. Eventually the days names and dates were merged into memorial day. Originally called decoration day from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers wreaths and flags memorial day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. Joe pah may 24 2020 at 1 30 pm. On decoration day memorial wreaths were placed on the graves of the confederate dead.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on memorial day to honor and. We will never know for certain if the southern tradition of decoration day was the inspiration for memorial day but the similarities do exist. Decoration day was observed in both the. Decoration days in southern appalachia and liberia are a living tradition of group ancestor veneration observances which arose by the 19th century.
Decoration day was celebrated to honor confederate dead and later the north began followed suit with memorial day. While decoration practices are localized and can be unique to individual families cemeteries and communities common elements unify the various decoration day practices and are thought to represent syncretism of christian cultures in 19th century. The holiday is now observed on the last monday of may having been observed on may 30 from 1868 to 1970. The calendar reads memorial day but in parts of the rural south residents know it as decoration day.
Memorial day previously but now seldom called decoration day is a federal holiday in the united states for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving in the united states armed forces. Memorial day traces its roots back the tradition of decoration day in the 1860s in which the graves of war dead were decorated with flowers. Whether it is dinner on the grounds and family barbecues decorating a cemetery with flowers and flags or the singing of gospel tunes and playing taps on a trumpet.