You know, your Martinmas goose. What do you mean, you don’t eat goose on Martinmas? What are you, Protestant? American?
Today is Armistice Day, and Veterans Day, and Remembrance Day. It is also the feast of St. Martin of Tours, patron of soldiers, conscientious objectors, wine makers, tailors, and the poor. St. Martin had some . . . difficulties with one goose in particular, and so eating goose on his feast day became a tradition. This also happened to be a good time to start slaughtering livestock in many parts of northern Europe, so that played a role as well.
In the US we remember the end of WWI by remembering all veterans, anyone who served honorably in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force. Memorial Day is reserved for the dead of all wars. In Britain and Europe, and the Commonwealth, November 11 is Armistice Day, when the dead of the wars are honored. (Germany sets aside a separate day as well, a Sunday, for commemoration and prayer.) At St. Angus-in-the Grass, we have a special chapel service with veterans speaking. Fr. Pax continued the tradition, and our current headmaster, Fr. Martial, is a former military chaplain. We have a number of alumni and parents and teachers who all served or are serving (Reserves, active-duty, National Guard.)
The US is a young country and we had a relatively “good” experience in WWI. Europe . . . didn’t. Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Canada, all sacrificed to help Britain, and bear similar scars, even if they didn’t suffer the bombings and severe deprivation that hit Britain. Armistice Day is Remembrance Day and is a grave, solemn event. In the US we honor the living on this day.
Thank you to all who served, and who are currently serving.
Cat Rotator's Quarterly 
Yeah, the geese goosed him when he was hiding in their barn (when he was hiding from those who wanted him as bishop). 😀
Thank you for remembering!