Lighting a candle at Lancaster Castle to mark 70th anniversary

January 27 is Holocaust Memorial Day, which allows people to come together to remember and honour the millions killed in the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.

Lancaster has been chosen as one of the UK’s “special venues” to mark the 70th anniversary, and a candle will be lit at the annual candle-lighting commemoration as part of the national initiative.

The event, which takes place at Lancaster Castle at 6.30pm, was chosen from hundreds of applications sent from all over the country to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, the charity responsible for marking Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK.

Holocaust survivor Stephen Breuer will light the candle, and additional candles will then be lit to remember those targeted during the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

Event organiser Liz Neat said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is an important focal point in the year and we are honoured to have been selected to be part of this nationwide commemoration. It is vital that we remember and reflect upon the horrors of the past and honour those who survived.”

The special candles will also be lit at a national commemorative event in Central London and at Auschwitz.

Holocaust Memorial Day events

Havdallah at The Friends Meeting House:

January 24, 6pm – 9pm

Taking place at William Stout Room, Friends Meeting House and marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath there will also be a cultural sharing on the theme of Keeping Memories Alive.

Interfaith Service Sunday at Priory Church:

January 25, 6.30pm

Music, prayers, and reflections from a variety of traditions on the theme of remembering and retelling. This year the service will be built around a performance of the Chichester Psalms (music by Leonard Bernstein, performed by the Priory choir) and with lots of input from members of our younger generations.

An exhibition by Diana Zwibach at the Dukes Theatre:

January 26 to 1 February 1

A personal response to the Hungarian-Nazi raid and murder of 1,327 citizens of Novi Sad, January 21-23 1942. The attack was part of a systematic programme all over Nazi-occupied Europe and in former Yugoslavia, where the artist’s family came from.

Holocaust Memorial Commemoration:

January 27

6.30pm at Lancaster Castle

7.15pm at The Storey

January 27 is the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. To mark this milestone, Lancaster has been awarded one of the ’70 Candles for 70 Years’ which will be lit at this commemorative event. This is part of a nationwide initiative to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and symbolically link commemorations across the UK.

Film: Night Will Fall

January 28, 6.30pm at the Dukes Theatre £6/£5

A compelling film documenting the story of the footage taken by Allied soldiers at the liberation of the Nazi camps in 1945 is nearing the end of its nationwide release. Night Will Fall is directed by André Singer and narrated by Helena Bonham-Carter.

All of the events commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day have been funded by the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme.

They have been organised by a partnership that includes: Lancaster and Lakes Jewish Community, Faith in Lancaster, More Music, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council and Lancaster Priory Church.

For more information on events taking place in Lancaster please visit www.moremusic.org.uk/events/HMD2015 or call the Hothouse on 01524 831997.