Question

Why was Memorial Day originally called Decoration Day?
It was a better name for the holiday than Memorial Day.

People used to make decorations on that day, but they no longer do.

People decorated soldiers' graves with flowers on that day.

Decoration is a more old-fashioned word than memorial.

Answer 1

As an octogenarian, I remember when it was called Decoration Day. My rural relatives decorated graves of their ancestors with flowers.

I suppose the name started with the decoration of soldiers' graves but expanded to include all family graves.