ARThe article explores the origins of the 'minute of silence' ritual, a gesture of respect and mourning for the deceased. It traces the practice back to early 20th-century Europe and South Africa, highlighting two significant historical instances. In 1912, during a session of the Portuguese Senate, legislators observed ten minutes of silence to honor Brazilian diplomat José Maria da Silva Paranhos, who had recently died. This was the first recorded instance of organized silence for a deceased individual. Later, in 1918, during World War I, British soldiers in South Africa observed a minute of silence after the death of Captain Reginald Hands due to chemical warfare. The article notes that while these events mark the beginnings of this tradition, the modern 'minute of silence' became more widespread in the 20th century, particularly in contexts such as sports matches and national commemorations.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a historical account of the origin of the 'minute of silence' without overtly favoring any political ideology. It focuses on factual historical events and does not frame the practice through a specific ideological lens. While the subject matter relates to public rituals and reme
