Why do we wear poppies?
November commemorates the month we remember all those who have lost their lives to conflicts across the world throughout history. As a sign to show we are thinking of all those lost to conflicts, many people wear a small red poppy. The poppies are sold as part of the Poppy Appeal that raises money for the Royal British Legion, an organisation that helps those impacted by conflicts and all the servicemen and women who are still alive today and lives were changed by wars they thought in. Why do we wear poppies? The notion of wearing a poppy originates back to World War One when the flower began to grow in the battlefields soldiers lost their lives in. But the poppy wasn’t made a popular way to remember the brave until the famous World War One poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ was written by John McCrae. Since then, the poppy has become a symbol of remembering everyone who gave their lives to wars, but also to those who have died on behalf of their country. 4
When do you wear a poppy? If you chose to wear a poppy to remember those lost to conflicts and wars, the British Legion asks to do it through the Remembrance period. Starting on the last Friday of October until November 11. However, the Legion does encourage to wear them at funerals of Veterans and commemorative events such as memorial service’s. What do the different coloured poppies mean? Although red is the most commonly worn remembrance poppy, there is a choice of colours that all represent a different meaning. Purple Poppy The purple poppy is worn to remember all the animals that have been a victim of war.
