双语 | 除了购物狂欢，“双11”背后的这段历史更值得铭记

年年“双11”，今年又血拼。随着互联网的发展，网购逐渐普及，“双11”也由光棍节演变成了购物狂欢节。然而，对于一些西方国家来说，“双11”却是个沉痛又庄严的日子——阵亡将士纪念日。

今天，小编就带大家一起来了解一下西方国家的“双11”。

阵亡将士纪念日起源

在英联邦国家及其他一些西方国家，每年的11月11日是阵亡将士纪念日（Remembrance Day），这一纪念日起源于第一次世界大战之后，是为了纪念在战争中失去生命的军人与平民。纪念日设在这一天是因为1918年11月11日是第一次世界大战的“停战日”（Armistice Day）。

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of First World War on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

这一纪念日在英国、加拿大、澳大利亚称为Remembrance Day，在美国则被称为Veterans Day，其历史渊源与Remembrance Day相同，只是1954年被重新命名。

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on 11 November, for honoring military veterans, that is, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of the First World War. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

纪念日象征：罂粟花

加拿大随军医生约翰·麦克雷（John McCrae）曾作诗《在法兰德斯战场上》（In Flanders Fields）悼念在战争中阵亡将士。诗中描写墓园绽放着红罂粟花（poppies），从此罂粟花便成为纪念日的象征。这一天人们会佩戴罂粟花，在纪念地点敬献花圈。

Remembrance Day is symbolized by the artificial poppies that people wear and place at war memorials. The poppies may be worn or placed singly or as wreaths. The use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance comes from a poem written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving in the military. The poem is called In Flanders Fields and describes the poppies growing in the Flemish graveyards where soldiers were buried.

（向上滑动启阅）

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

不同国家的纪念活动

阵亡将士纪念日这一天，不同国家纪念的方式略有不同。

英国

人们会在这一天的上午11点暂停活动，集体默哀2分钟。官方纪念活动不一定在11月11日当天举行。2019年11月10日，即阵亡将士纪念日前一天，包括英国女王伊丽莎白二世、首相约翰逊在内的英国王室及政要在伦敦参加了纪念日的相关活动。

Remembrance Day is an observance and not a public holiday in the UK. Many businesses may temporarily pause activity at 11a.m. for 2 minutes of silence on 11 November.

The day is also marked by events such as memorial services, church services and parades. A national commemoration takes place at Whitehall, a road in the City of Westminster in central London.

加拿大

人们会佩戴罂粟花，并在首都渥太华的国家战争纪念碑举行纪念仪式，同样会在上午11点默哀2分钟。

Many people wear artificial poppies on their clothes in the weeks before Remembrance Day. On 11 November, special church services are organized. These often include the playing of "The Last Post", a reading of the fourth verse of the 'Ode of Remembrance' and two minutes silence at 11a.m.

美国

纪念日被定为官方假日，美国退伍军人事务部（U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs）会组织官方纪念活动。每年11月11日上午11点会在阿灵顿国家公墓举行退纪念仪式，在阵亡将士墓前敬献花圈，并纪念和感谢所有美国军人。

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on 11 November at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.

如今的太平盛世是用无数先辈的血躯换来的，纪念在战争中失去生命的战士，不仅仅是缅怀他们为安定与和平做出的贡献，更提醒人们战争的残酷与和平的重要。

诗人布伦丹·康斯坦丁（Brendan Constantine）曾写过《反义词游戏》（The Opposites Game），以诗歌的形式讨论“枪”的反义词是什么，引发人们对暴力与战争的反思。下面是该诗的同名短片，大家不妨跟随诗人一起思考，what is the antonym of gun?

动画短片《反义词游戏》

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