Elsa shares holiday facts

_Elsa_

Elsa doesn’t feel that her guests need to run around too much today so it’s best that they all hang out here for a bit. She heads inside to get some of the facts that she found on Google. 

“I thought this might be interesting if I share some of the holiday facts with you,” says Elsa. “Tiffi already knows me and knows that I always Google a lot before writing any stories. I found these really interesting facts.”

 • It had a name change

When the first versions of Memorial Day were celebrated after the Civil War, the event went by the name Decoration Day, when flowers were laid on graves.

• It was initially designed just for the Civil War

For more than 100 years, Memorial Day was reserved for honoring the lives of Civil War soldiers. The holiday didn’t expand to casualties of all-American wars until after World War I. In 1971, it was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress. Find out why some states initially refused to celebrate Memorial Day.

• It wasn’t always on the last Monday of May

Until 1971, when Memorial Day became an official federal holiday, the annual commemoration stayed on May 30, no matter what day of the week. Once the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed, it lined its official date up to the day of the week: the final Monday in May.

• The flag shouldn’t stay at half-staff all day

Federal guidelines say the flag should be displayed at half-staff only until noon, then go up to full-staff until sundown. 

• "Taps" started as a goodnight song

During the Civil War, a U.S. general thought the bugle call signaling bedtime could use a more melodious tune, so he wrote the notes for “Taps” in 1862. Another officer later used the bugle song for a funeral, fearing the traditional firing of rifles might sound like an attack. Now, “Taps” is a traditional part of Memorial Day celebrations.

• A poem inspired the poppy tradition

During World War I, Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae wrote the poem, "In Flanders Field." Inspired by the poem’s image of red poppies scattered through cross-shaped grave markers, American Moina Michael and France's Anna E. Guerin started selling artificial poppies as a fundraiser for children affected by the war. (Read more here) 

Everyone is fascinated to learn more about this holiday. They share a nice quiet evening at home.  

“Tomorrow morning is the parade,” Elsa says. “It starts around 11:00 CET and we will have to leave early to get a good place to watch it. Blankets and pillows are all laid out for you so I’m going to say goodnight and will see you all in the morning.  

Let’s continue to the next part here - Let’s go to the parade!

Start at the beginning – Elsa makes plans for Memorial Day 2020