The sunset ceremony is a combination of three ceremonies:

• Lowering of the National Flag of Canada
• The ancient ceremony of Beating Retreat
• Tattoo

The origin of Beating Retreat is obscure.  The first reference to it appears in the year 1554, but some historians believe the ceremony had its beginnings in the days of the Crusades.  At that time, it was the practice to cease lighting at dusk and resume at dawn.  The warriors were called back to camp by a roll of the drums.

Later, when the drums became confused with the sound of gunfire, bugles were added.  The ceremony carried out today closely follows that of the 16th Century.  Towns in those days were fortified and the inhabitants formed outside the walls.  At sunset, a call was sounded to summon the guard for the night and as a warning to those outside the walls to return before the gates were shut for the night.  This was originally La Retraite and later became known as the Retreat Call.  This procedure was followed in the early settlements of Canada.

In larger towns with permanent garrisons, the drummers were sent through the streets, "beating in quick time" to remind those on leave of absence to return to their quarters.  As the drummers passed inns and bars, the publicans closed them for the night.  This was the origin of the expression, Tattoo, which is a corruption of the Flemish expression "tap toe", or "turn off the taps".

Following the Retreat and Tattoo, the garrison was mustered and the night guard was mounted.  Before sentries were posted, they fired or proved their muskets to ensure they were in good condition.