Trafalgar Day - Definition and Overview

Trafalgar Day, 21 October, was widely commemorated by parades, dinners and other events throughout much of the British Empire in the 19th and early 20th century as a celebration of the victory won by Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet over the combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Its celebration declined rapidly after the end of the First World War in 1918. The massive casualties and upheaval had changed the general public perception of war as a source of glorious victories to a more somber view of it as a tragedy, for which the newly instituted Armistice Day on 11 November was felt more appropriate.

2005 will be the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar, and the Royal Navy will be leading Trafalgar 200 celebrations. The International Fleet Review, the first since Her Majesty The Queen's 1977 Silver Jubilee will be held off Spithead in the Solent on 28 June.

External links

• Trafalgar 200 (http://www.trafalgar200.com/)
• Royal Navy's Trafalgar 200 page (http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/7076.html)