Every year on 27th January we mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Why not create a holocaust memorial flame to remember it? This is also a great way to remember those who have lost their lives due to religious beliefs, sexuality and race at any time of the year. You can make your flame individually, together with your household or with a group online.
What is Holocaust Memorial Day?
Each year on 27 January Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. The day is a time to remember the six million Jewish people who were systematically persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust. It is also a chance to remember the Nazis’ other victims, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, those in the LGBTQ+ community, political opponents and many others as well as the millions of men, women and children, who have been murdered in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Genocides are unfortunately still happening around the world today. It is up to all of us to stand up against prejudice in our society today, to make the world a safer place for all.
The logo for Holocaust Memorial Day is a Memorial Flame.
This symbolises commitment to remember and honour those affected and murdered during the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed. Our commitment to remembrance and a chance to stand up and say never again – we must keep learning, sharing and taking action so the memory of these events is kept alive for years to come.
Before Making your Flame
You could choose to read and discuss with your household the experiences of someone affected by the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution or a more recent genocide, using a life story resource from the HMD website or find more online. Please note that some life stories contain upsetting details.
If you know someone or have a family member who was lived experience of the holocaust or other genocides you could ask to hear their story and use this as inspiration for your display.
Making your Holocaust Memorial Flame
Take the image of a Memorial Flame as the starting point for a display to remember. Could your Memorial Flame honour the people in any stories that you have read or heard in the past? Can your artwork help share their experiences and messages with more people?
Gather some materials to make your flame. It is really open as to how you wish to make it. You could use:
- painted hand, foot or fingerprints
- written messages of peace and positivity placed into the shape of a flame
- drawings
- paintings
- collage
- sculpture
- digital design – the options are truly endless!
Below are a couple of examples to help give you some ideas for starting your own memorial flame:
Using finger painting:
Using tissue paper:
You can share your flame with those who live near you by displaying in your window. Or you could share a picture of it on social media. If you do, don’t forget to use #DreamBigAtHome so that we can see what everyone is up to. You can also use #HolocaustMemorialDay and see flame displays that others have made.
Take it Further
This activity is from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2020. You can request ‘About HolocaustMemorialDay’ booklets for more activities around HMD and to further your knowledge.
If this activity helped you explore peace and you would like to explore further you could try out making Milk Bottle Doves for peace to continue creatively spreading a message of peace.
