For people who have no idea about what Remembrance day is, it is a memorial day that every commonwealth state observes in the memory of armed force members who lost their lives in the first world war.
Remembrance Day is observed on the second Sunday of November every year. However, some nations observe it on 11th November every year. The day of Remembrance is also known as Poppy day because Poppy is the symbol that presents this day.
Poppies are worn by people as a tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Further, Poppies are regarded as symbols of peace and hope.
Here is more about why Poppies are regarded as the symbol of Remembrance Day and what the right way to wear them is.
What Does A White Poppy Symbolize?
Poppies are worn on the second Sunday of November every year, in the memory of soldiers who have lost their lives in world war I.
Poppy was sparked as an inspiration for people by a Canadian officer named John McCrae. He dedicated it as the representation of people who lost their lives. This Canadian officer has also detailed poppies in one of his poems.
His poem In Flanders Fields, address the poppies which grew on the battlefield. The poem starts with “In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row…“ He wrote this poem in the year 1915 and 1921. It was the time when Royal British Legion started selling false poppies to generate money for war veterans.
When asked about when to wear poppies, they are commonly worn from the start of the Great British Legion’s Poppy Appeal till Remembrance Sunday. For this year, the poppy appeal began on October 28th, and Remembrance Day will be observed on November 14th. Usually, people wear poppies in the first two weeks of November.
According to BBC, “The White Poppy was first introduced by the Women’s Co-operative Guild in 1933 and was intended as a lasting symbol for peace and an end to all wars”. Currently, these poppies are distributed by The Peace Pledge Union.
Which Side Should A Poppy Be Worn?
Following the tradition, poppies must be worn on the left-hand side. Preferably, it is worn on the left side of your chest. The left side of the chest is mostly preferred because it is the side where your heart exists. Thus, poppies are worn with a perception of keeping the martyrs near to their hearts.
If you observe deeply, you will witness Queen wearing poppies on her left side. However, Royal British Legion has revealed that there is not a correct or incorrect way to wear poppies. The website wrote, “It’s a matter of personal choice whether someone chooses to wear a poppy and how they choose to wear it. The best way to wear a poppy is simply with pride.”
The color of a poppy is also significant in this regard. You might have seen people wearing red, white, and purple poppies in November every year. What does each color represent? Well, red and white poppies are worn to pay tribute to people who lost their lives while purple poppies are worn to pay respect to the animals that passed away because of the war.
The purple poppy was introduced by a charity called Animal Aid in the year 2021. People believe that it is important to remember all the animals that served during the war and lost their lives.
Also, read about the brand new Twitter Blue
The Bottom Line
This was all about what Remembrance Day is and why people wear poppies on this particular day. Hopefully, you have got all the information you needed to know.