Moment of silence

For other uses, see Moment of silence (disambiguation).
"One minute silence" redirects here. For the band, see One Minute Silence.
"Minute of silence" redirects here. For the Soviet radio program, see Minute of Silence.

A moment of silence observed by people wearing the traditional folk costumes of the Gail Valley in Austria
Naples, Italy (July 14, 2005) – Navy Chaplain Dave McBeth, left, leads an informal gathering of personnel aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples during a Europe-wide coordinated two-minute moment of silence held throughout the European Union in relation to the 2005 London Bombings.

A moment of silence (also referred to as a minute's silence or a one-minute silence) is a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have died recently, or as part of a tragic historical event, such as Remembrance Day.

A minute, or 60 seconds, is a common length of time for the memorialization, though organizers may choose other periods of time, normally connected in some way with the event being commemorated (there might be a minute given for every death commemorated, for example). During a moment of silence, its participants may typically bow their heads, remove their hats, and refrain from speaking, or moving, for the duration of it.