05/25/2026
I usually focus on etiquette at tea time, but today I thought I would share something different…. Etiquette for Memorial Day.
First it’s important to understand why this day is a holiday to begin with.
The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, had claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers. This eventually became known as Decoration Day every May 30th.
In 1971, Memorial Day was officially established to commemorate all American military personnel who died in all wars on the last Monday in May. Today, people observe this holiday in many different ways.
So what is the proper etiquette for wishing someone a “Happy Memorial Day”? With it being a day where we are supposed to honor & remember the fallen, saying “happy” doesn’t seem right. Instead, we should wish that someone has a meaningful or a fulfilling Memorial Day in hopes that they can find closure for their lost loved ones.
So…. I wish you a fulfilled Memorial Day & a meaningful weekend 🇺🇸
