Holiday A Day

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.   I am your host Jeffrey Johnson   On July 13th 2014 we recognize   Ireland’s National Day of Commemoration which is held on the Sunday closest to July 11th   This is the day when ceremonies take place to honor those who have died in service of Ireland.  First held in 1985, it replaced several other days that were used to remember those who died in different armed conflict throughout Irelands history.  With Ireland being such a new country (fully independent in 1931) and there being opposition to that independence as well as the Irish Civil war, people objected to the different dates for various reasons.  July 11th was chosen since it was the date of the signing of the truce ending the Irish War of Independence.   The ceremony  has both military and religious elements, starting with an interfaith service with members of Christian denominations, Jewish and Islamic faiths.  Then ther