We’ve entered November–the month in which we set aside a special day to remember our country’s soldiers. In Canada we call it Remembrance Day.
We commemorate by wearing flocked red poppies in the weeks leading up to November 11th and on the day, gathering at cenotaphs throughout the country to lay wreaths, pray prayers, and honor our veterans with songs, readings, flypasts, bugle calls, bagpipes, and salutes.
But this is only one way people throughout generations remember.
In Bible times people’s memories were jogged by feasts (Leviticus 23). During the Feast of Passover, for example, the Israelites remembered their dramatic release from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12:14). During the Feast of Tabernacles (also called Booths or Shelters) they remembered their wilderness wanderings when for forty years they lived in tents and God provided for their needs (Leviticus 23:42,43).
In the New Testament Jesus began a new memory tradition with the Last Supper. On that night His sharing of the bread and wine became the memorial feast for His death and resurrection that we call Communion. (Mark 14:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Remembering is complex. Memories are triggered by many things: photographs, the reminiscences of others, looking through the attic, smells, songs, celebrations, food …
Memories come colored by a range of emotions from pleasure to anguish, joy to embarrassment. They may leave us with a spectrum of feelings from laughter to tears, thanksgiving to guilt.
This month I invite you to write about something you remember.
- Possibly a memory related to the special day we celebrate on November 11th will inspire a short story or essay.
- Maybe the season, with its colors, tastes and smells will trigger memories perfect for a poem.
- Perhaps you’ll write about an object or celebration that helps you remember.
Whatever you write about and in whatever form, make sure your piece is full of detail and specifics. What senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound) were part of your trigger experience? Do your best to transport your reader to the time and place of your memory.
Happy writing as you remember this November!
Violet Nesdoly 
I always remember all souls day is that Nov 11th too? It is definitely a dark and thoughtful month before the light snow and fun of Christmas, expect for Picture book month.
LikeLike
Thanks, Catherine! Actually All Souls Day (also called All Saints Day) is today – November 1st. I’ll never forget that because years ago when I was traveling in Europe with a friend, we arrived in Vienna, Austria on November 1st, ready to explore the town–and everything was closed! All Saints Day was a big holiday there at that time. Don’t know if it still is today though.
LikeLike
Of course! I couldn’t remember if All Saints was same day or the day before. That’s a funny story, Violet. Although probably wasn’t funny at the time.
LikeLike