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 and traditions

Silhouette of Australian buglar — The Last Post

Commemorative wreaths — Laying of wreaths

Engraved stone with the words of The Ode — The recitation (including the Ode)

The Flanders Memorial in the sculpture garden — A period of silence

The red poppy — 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.

Historical photograph of buglar — The Rouse and the Reveille

The guard of honour in the Hall of Memory — Reversed arms

Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier — The unknown soldier

The Lone Charger — The lone charger

Gun carriage — The gun carriage

A sprig of rosemary — Rosemary

Rifle volley salute — Rifle volleys and gun salutes

Original handwritten copy of In Flanders Fields — Poems

The Australian flag at half mast — Flags at half mast

A piper at the Memorial's Last Post Ceremony — The lone piper and Flowers of the forest

Last updated: 24 December 2020

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