The famous memorial day is part of the celebrations celebrated in New York in May. It is a very warm celebration in the United States that fills Americans with great pride.

But what is “Memorial Day”? It is the day when the United States of America remembers and pays tribute to those who lost their lives in war. It is therefore the anniversary dedicated to those who fought under the American flag, men and women, and who sacrificed themselves for their country.

Memorial Day is always celebrated on the last Monday in May and since it is a real national holiday, many state-owned companies such as the post office and offices are closed, most shops are open and there is a "Memorial Day Sale" . This day is not only a commemoration, but also marks the "beginning of the summer season." In fact, there are many Americans who take advantage of the Memorial Day weekend to organize outdoor activities and take part in the various events planned during these days.

If you're in New York during Memorial Day, the list of things to do will definitely be longer! In this post I will tell you how the Memorial Day tradition was born and tell you about the main events organized in the Big Apple.

As mentioned above, Memorial Day is a very important day for Americans to demonstrate their strong patriotism. To give an example, on this day, from dawn to noon, it is traditional to fly the American flag at half-mast and visit cemeteries and memorials to pay homage to the war dead.

The origins of Memorial Day date back to the second half of the nineteenth century, to May 30, 1868. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday commemorated the soldiers who lost their lives during the first American Civil War between 1861 and 1868 had lost. It wasn't until 1967 that "Memorial Day" was officially spoken of, and in 1971 it became a true national holiday for all those who had lost their lives in the war and fought under the American flag.

In addition, the so-called National Moment of Remembrance was established in 2000. What is it made of? A minute's silence will be observed on Remembrance Day at 3 p.m. to remember the true meaning of this day.

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May and therefore falls on May 29th this year 2023. As expected, in addition to the commemorative significance, this day marks the beginning of summer and New Yorkers take the opportunity to indulge in the outdoor activities typical of this season (picnics, barbecues, beach trips, etc.). Plus, many stores have really great discounts and deals on Memorial Day weekend. You should take advantage of that!

Here are some of the main events organized for Memorial Day in New York:

• Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade: takes place in Queens and is one of the largest parades dedicated to Memorial Day. The start is scheduled for Monday, May 29th at 2:00 p.m. The entire daily program and the map with the different stops of the parade are available on the website .

• Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade: It is the "historic" parade of Memorial Day and is organized in Brooklyn. The parade will take place on Monday, May 29th at 11:00 a.m. in Bay Ridge and will be led by U.S. Army veterans. It is the 156th edition. Click here to find out more

• Fleet Week: Memorial Day is celebrated during what is known as Fleet Week, the week in which the U.S. naval services gather in New York. Many events will be organized during Fleet Week (from May 24th to 30th, 2023). For example, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial or the ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Manhattan (Riverside Dr & 89th St). You can see the entire week's program on the Fleet Week website .

• Memorial Day Concert, is the New York Philharmonic's free concert taking place on Monday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Ave). The concert lasts an hour and a half and tickets are distributed in the order of arrival on Mondays from 5:00 p.m. More information here .

On the Washington day trip we visit the Korean War, Vietnam War, World War I and World War II memorials, and we also stop at Arlington National Cemetery. The tour, with a German-speaking tour guide, departs daily near Times Square at 6:30 a.m. You can book the tour here .