What is it?
Covid Memorial Day is a national day of remembrance those lost to COVID19, exactly one year after the first Briton was reported to have died.
We are asking you to mark the day privately and – if you wish – publicly by observing a minute’s silence at 7pm, putting a candle in your window or standing outside your home with a candle.
You might also want to post us a message/poem/reading/song
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Why does it matter?
Experts say that grief needs to be witnessed and yet – over the last year – we have faced a huge amount of loss and had little opportunity to grieve.
For families and communities, and countries who have lost so much, a process of collective grieving is an important part of the healing process. If we can come together – even just for one day – and share our common sorrow, it will be very powerful
Virtually every nation that has had large numbers of Covid deaths have held national memorials. Spain, for example, had a 10-day period of remembrance period and last month, the first thing that Joe Biden did was to hold a national Covid Memorial Day. The reaction one American man after the event summed it up: “I hadn’t realised just how much I’d needed that,” he wrote.
Shakespeare warns that if we fail to “give sorrow words” grief “will o-er wrought heart and bid it break”.
Covid Memorial Day is a day to give our sorrow words
- How can you get involved?
Post material on social media with a hashtag or send it to us. It could be a photograph, a poem, a reading, a song, a painting. People are encouraged to post their own messages
Spread the word
Covid Memorial Day is entirely non-political, organised by a small group of friends.
For families and communities, and countries who have lost so much, a process of collective grieving is an important part of the healing process. If we can come together – even just for one day – and share our common sorrow, it will be very powerful
Shakespeare warns that if we fail to “give sorrow words” grief “will o-er wrought heart and bid it break”.
Covid Memorial Day is a day to give our sorrow words
The idea for COVID Memorial Day began in the UK, sparked by the recognition that, in the words of grief expert, David Kessler, “grief must be witnessed.” On 5 September 2020, exactly six months after the first COVID-19 death in the UK, a national Covid Memorial Day was held, with a service in London and candle-lit vigils in Trafalgar Square and around the county. There were also days held around the world for World Covid Memorial Day and on 19 January, Joe Biden began his presidency with a Covid Memorial Day.
How can you get involved?
- Draw a picture of a candle and put it in your window
- Attend your local Covid Memorial Day candle-lit vigil or memorial service
If there is no vigil planned near you, why not organise one. Click here for advice, materials and a press pack to inform your local media.
- Post material on social media with a hashtag or send it to us. It could be a photograph, a poem, a reading, a song, a painting. People are encouraged to post their own messages
- Spread the word
Covid Memorial Day is entirely non-political, organised by a small group of friends.
The idea for COVID Memorial Day began in the UK, sparked by the recognition that, in the words of grief expert, David Kessler, “grief must be witnessed.” On 5 September 2020, exactly six months since the first COVID-19 death in the UK, a national Covid Memorial Day was held, with a service in London and candle-lit vigils in Trafalgar Square and around the county.
Vigils and Services
There will be candlelit vigils held after sundown in cities, towns and villages. There will also be a handful of services.
Vigils will take place at sunset in different time zones, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii.
We will hold a one minute silence on the hour every hour from sunrise in New Zealand to sunset in Hawaii, but people are free to participate whenever and in whatever way they feel.
The exact number of vigils and services is not yet known but people are encouraged to arrange something themselves wherever they are.
Who is involved with Covid Memorial Day?
Hear Our Elders – Twitter @HearOurElders
Covid Memory Day – Twitter @CovidMemoryDay
Other COVID memorial events
In Amsterdam on August, a vigil in Dam Square saw 10,000 candles lit to commemorate each of the Dutch people taken by coronavirus.
In May 20, as COVID19 death toll in the US approached 100,000, the New York Times devote their front page in memory of the dead. We’re calling on UK papers – national & local – to do the same
In July, as death toll hit the 10,000, Brazil’s largest newpaper, O Globo, published ten thousand stories of the dead.
FOR DETAILS OF VIGILS AND SERVICES see TWITTER – @CovidMemoryDay
For an interview or to let us know about an event you are organising, email us or contact 07799650791