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Poppies and Remembrance

Why do we wear a poppy during November?

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poppy But why a poppy?


Why the poppy became the symbol of remembrance

Flanders is the name of the whole western part of Belgium. It saw some of the most concentrated and bloodiest fighting of the First World War. There was complete devastation. Buildings, roads, trees and natural life simply disappeared. Where once there were homes and farms there was now a sea of mud - a grave for the dead where men still lived and fought.





John McCraeJohn McCrae, a doctor serving with the Canadian Armed Forces, was so deeply moved by what he saw in northern France that, in 1915 in his pocket book, he scribbled down the poem "In Flanders Fields" .

McCrae's poem was eventually published in 'Punch' magazine under the title 'In Flanders Fields'. The poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

poppy being worn
Why do we wear a poppy?

In 1918, Moira Michael, an American, wrote a poem in reply, 'We shall keep the faith', in which she promised to wear a poppy ‘in honour of our dead’. This began the tradition of wearing a poppy in remembrance.

crossScout wreath

Which side should I wear my poppy?

I feel it is more important to wear a poppy rather than worry about which side you should wear it. Some people prefer to wear a poppy on the left over their hearts. However, the general rules is to wear Left for men because that's where medals go and Right for women because that's where a widow would wear her husband's medals.

Why do Scottish Remembrance Poppies have no green leaf and English Poppies do?

"Unlike the English poppy, the Scottish poppy has four petals and no leaf. Apart from being botanically incorrect, to put a leaf on each of the poppies would cost £15,000 each year, money Poppy Scotland feels is better spent on supporting veterans and their dependants in Scotland."

Where does the money raised from selling poppies go?


When was the first Poppy Day?

The first actual Poppy Day was held in Britain on November 11th, 1921 and was a national success raising £106,000. Since then, during every November, we keep the memory alive by wearing a poppy to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during war.

poppy icon Song: Poppy Petals

poppy icon Remembrance Day

poppy icon Remembrance Poems

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© Copyright Mandy Barrow 2013

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