Ceremonial customs | The Australian War Memorial

Ceremonial customs

ADF personnel guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — Personnel from the Australian Federation Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier during the ceremony marking the dedication of soil to the new Flanders Memorial Garden, 3 April 2017.

Commemorative ceremonies, such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, share many customs and traditions. Explore the origins and significance of these with the links below.

Customs & traditions

The Last Post
Laying of wreaths
The recitation (including the Ode)
A period of silence
Red poppies

The Flanders poppy has long been a part of Remembrance Day, the ritual that marks the Armistice of 11 November 1918, and is also increasingly being used as part of Anzac Day observances.
Rosemary
Rifle volleys and gun salutes
Poems

When are these customs used?

Remembrance Day

In 2018, Sunday 11 November marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18).
Last Post Ceremony

Commencing at approximately 4.55 pm AEST, the Memorial farewells visitors with its moving Last Post Ceremony, held in Memorial’s Commemorative courtyard.

Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country

throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and

waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.