Holocaust memorial days

Holocaust Memorial Day or Holocaust Remembrance Day may refer to one of several commemorations of the Holocaust.

Country	Date	Name	Notes
United Nations	27 January	International Holocaust Remembrance Day	It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005 during the 42nd plenary session.
Israel	27 Nisan (April/May)	Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day), or Yom HaZikaron laShoah ve-laGvura (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day)	An Israeli holiday, more accurately an official date of remembrance, it is also commemorated and observed by many Jewish communities in the United States and around the world. Although secular in the sense that there are no religious obligations or prohibitions, special prayers and rituals have developed over the years, such as lighting six memorial candles -- one for each million of the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. An official state memorial service is held at 8 p.m. on the eve of Yom HaShoah at Yad Vashem (note that all dates on the Jewish calendar begin at sunset and end at nightfall on the next day), which is attended by Israel's president, prime minister, chief rabbis and other invited dignatories and guests including Holocaust survivors, six of whom are chosen to light a memorial torch; the service is broadcast in full on television. In addition, many congregations and other Jewish groups in Israel and around the world hold their own memorial services that evening, and many individuals light a memorial candle ("yahrzeit candle") at home. Restaurants and places of entertainment are closed by law throughout Israel for Yom HaShoah, and television and radio programming is primarily dedicated to Holocaust-related issues. On the morning of Yom HaShoah, a two minute siren sounds throughout the country, during which people -- including those driving -- stop whatever they are doing and stand at silent attention in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
European Union	27 January	International Holocaust Remembrance Day	since 2005
Czech Republic	27 January	Den pamatky obeti holocaustu a predchazeni zlocinu proti lidskosti (Memorial Day for the Victims of the Holocaust and Prevention of Crimes against Humanity)
France	16 July	Anniversaire de la rafle du Vélodrome d'hiver (Anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup)	Remembrance marked by the mass arrest of 13,152 Jews in Paris on this date in 1942 and their extermination at Auschwitz.
Germany	27 January	Gedenktag für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus (Memorial Day for the Victims of National Socialism)
Italy	27 January	Giorno della Memoria (Memorial Day)
The Netherlands	4 May	Nationale Herdenkingsdag (National Memorial Day)
Poland	19 April	Holocaust Remembrance Day	Anniversary of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
United Kingdom	27 January	Holocaust Memorial Day
United States	8 May	Holocaust Victims Memorial Day	Proposed by Steven Spielberg, film director of Schindler's List a story of a Nazi party member who saved 10,000 Jews from extermination. Not a federal holiday, but in 2005 the United States had a "moment of silence" on the 60th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany. The world became more aware of the Holocaust when allied troops visited Nazi concentration camps.
United States	8-day period, from the Sunday before Yom Hashoah to the Sunday after Yom Hashoah	Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust	Established by Congress as the period for remembrance programs and ceremonies, with the participation of States, Cities, and military ships and stations. The annual National Civic Commemoration is held in the Capitol Rotunda. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum provides support materials linked to an annual theme. The Department of Defense produced a resource guide for military programs.
Romania	9 October	Ziua Naţională de Comemorare a Holocaustului (National Day of Commemorating the Holocaust)
Manitoba, Canada	27 Nisan (April/May)	The Canadian province of Manitoba enacted legislation to recognize Holocaust Memorial Day in 2000.[1]

External Links

• Example of prayer offered in Capitol Rotunda for civil ceremony in honor of the United States Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust.