National Day of Reflection

{{Short description|UK Covid commemoration, 23 March}}

File:Logo of National Day of Reflection (UK).png

The Day of Reflection in the United Kingdom is a day to remember those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was initiated, as the National Day of Reflection, in 2021 by the Marie Curie charity, and was held on 23 March, the anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.{{Cite news |last1=Duffield |first1=Charlie |last2=Bulbul |first2=Nuray |date=23 March 2023 |title=When is the National Day of Reflection and the minute's silence? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/national-day-of-reflection-when-covid-lockdown-anniversary-b1068758.html |work=The Standard}} In 2024 the word "National" was removed and the date of the fourth day was changed to Sunday 3 March 2024.{{Cite web |title=Day of Reflection 2024 |url=https://dayofreflection.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Marie Curie |language=en-GB}} The event is supported by the Church of England.{{cite web |title=National Day of Reflection |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance/national-day-reflection |website=The Church of England |access-date=6 June 2022 |language=en}}

In 2022 the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, wrote the poem "Only Human", which he read at the service held at York Minster on the National Day of Reflection.{{cite web |last1= |last2= |first2= |title=National Day of Reflection - Poem; Poet Laureate Simon Armitage - Only Human |url=https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/latest-news/national-day-of-reflection-poem-poet-laureate-simon-armitage/ |website=The Association of English Cathedrals |access-date=6 June 2022 |language=en |date=2022}}