November is the month of remembrance, when the western world unites to remember those who gave up their lives, and whose lives changed forever, during the conflicts of the First World War.

November the 11th is officially Remembrance Day, when the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is commemorated as the day that the peace armistice was signed by the warring countries in 1918.

2016 is a special year for remembrance services because it marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The 1st July 2016 marked 100 years since the beginning of the battle – said to be the bloodiest of the war. Over 1 million men lost their lives during the fighting, and the very word Somme has become synonymous with bloody war, tragedy and the devastating loss of life.

And in honour of this special centenary year, landmarks across North Wales are being lit up in red, to mark the occasion, and to bring the reality of the horrific events back to the public sphere, so that they aren’t forgotten. Already installed in Caernarfon Castle is a stunning waterfall display of red poppies. Weeping Window is a cascade comprising several thousand handmade ceramic poppies seen pouring from a high window to the ground below. A second sculpture, Wave, will be exhibited at other venues across the UK, but is currently being displayed at Caernarfon.

Last Friday evening, landmarks across North Wales, including 17 castles, Rhyl’s Pon y Ddraig Bridge and Clock Tower were also lit up with beautiful displays of red lights, which symbolises not only the blood lost during the war, but also the red poppy – which has become a global symbol for the November Remembrance events.

The landmarks will remain lit up until Remembrance Sunday – 13th November.

See parts of the famous Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red exhibit (which was at the Tower of London) at Caernarfon Castle this Autumn