Simple and effective ways to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in 2024

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is the international day on 27 January for everyone to remember the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Every year, there is a theme for HMD and for 2024 it is Fragility of Freedom. This theme draws attention to the vulnerability of freedoms and how we can safeguard them. You can read more on the HMD website.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) understands that emergency services across the UK are enduring unprecedented pressures and are offering their support, resources and advice to make it as easy as possible to learn more about genocide and to mark HMD in 2024.

HMDT have created templates and tailor-made resources with the emergency services in mind. These are free to download and can be used at any time between December and February.

Marking HMD need not take much time to remain hugely symbolic to individuals and communities everywhere. Commemorative activities could range from a simple social media post by a local policing team to a hospital joining the Light the Darkness National Moment.

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Here are three ways to mark HMD and remember all those millions of people murdered because of something that made them who they were – for example their ethnicity or faith.

1. Light candles, observe a minute’s silence, and read a poem or life story
2. Share an image of your activity on social media using HMD hashtags
3. Create a display using HMDT posters and information.

Please remember to let HMDT know your HMD activity plans, big or small, internal or external. To do this, simply share your activity title and location on the UK wide HMD activity map and join the big picture of HMD across the UK.

HMD activities and events are an opportunity to bring people together from all different backgrounds. It is a day for us to learn more about the past, empathise with people today and take action for a better future.

If you have any questions about marking HMD, whether it be how to, when to, or if you want more information about HMD itself, then please get in touch, using enquiries@hmd.org.uk.