Remembrance Day

Today we remember those Canadians who died during the various wars. November 11th was chosen because it was on November 11, 1918 that the First World War ended. We wear poppies to help us remember. It has also become a time to thank all those who serve in Canada's military.
 

 
Why poppies Cloë?
 
Because poppies grow wild in many parts of Europe where most of World War I was fought. In fact, it was a Canadian who wrote one of the most famous poems about those who died. It's called In Flanders Fields.
 

(Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6BlOkpdkg8)

Click here to read about some of the things you can do to mark Remembrance Day.
 
In addition to it being Remembrance Day, it is also the feast of Saint Martin de Tours, the patron saint of soldiers! He lived a very long time ago. His father was in the army, so it was expected that he too would join the army when he was old enough. But when Martin became a Christian at 18, he decided that the army was not a good idea.
 

(This picture was painted by Maria Cristina. To see more of her saint pictures click here.)

So what did he end up doing Cloë?
 
Well Tallulah, he became a monk. He founded the very first monastery in Gaul, which is what France was called at the time. He was a good man and he helped the poor. Eventually he became the Bishop of a place called Tours.
 
Don't we have a church around here called Saint Martin de Tours?

 
That's right Cloë. It is in the very far corner of the diocese in a place called Glen Robertson.
 
To celebrate the feast of Saint Martin de Tours you can bake St. Martin Croissants. They are very popular in Poland where they are called Rogal Świętomarciński.
  

 
Wow that is a very complicated name! But it sure looks deeelicious.
 
The people love them and they eat lots of them on this feast day. If you click here you can find the recipe.

Well that's it for today - Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah