Does anyone know the history of wearing the Red Poppy in November?

Answer 1

The poppy is traditionally worn by people in Canada and the United Kingdom (and possibly Australia and NZ).

It was inspired by a poem called "In Flanders Fields" written by a Canadian soldier named John McCrae, after seeing his friend killed in battle:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Answer 2

The Flanders Poppy, was first known from the Battle of Waterloo [Belgium] and both Wellington and Blucher thought it a fitting symbol of remembrance of the dead of that great battle.

During WW-One the Flanders Poppy grew just about everywhere in Flanders and was noted again and became the symbol for the Allies to remember their war dead.

The Flanders Poppy was also used in the United States as well as the former British Empire [Commonwealth].

This link will help explain more about the Red Poppy, origainally the Flanders Poppy. My grandfather, a veteran of the Somme, wore the red poppy every November. So too did my dad and me too.

Wear your poppy with pride.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

THE POPPY STORY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION PADERBORN BRANCH
How the Poppy became the symbol of remembrance. ... We shall not sleep, though poppies grow. In Flanders fields. John McRae. We shall keep faith ...
http://www.rblpaderborn.netfirms.com/subpages/THE POPPY STORY.htm

Answer 3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/closeup/qa_poppies.shtml

Have a look at that link it's interesting reading and tells you the history behind wearing the Red Poppy.

Edit* The wearing of poppies as a symbol of remembrance began in America, when university teacher Monia Michel read a poem called "In Flanders Fields" by John Macrae. A little background: Flanders Fields, in France, was the site of some of the bloodiest fighting of World War One, and in the aftermath of the destruction caused there, the only thing that was able to grow was the red poppy. Michael, inspired by the poem, began selling poppies to friends to raise money for ex-servicemen.

Answer 4

The Poppy pin is worn as remembrance of the fallen British and commonwealth infantrymen of wars considering 1914. We use the Poppy because of the fact this actual flower replaced into latest in abundance interior the fields of Flanders throughout the great conflict. Giving a donation whilst taking a Poppy pin helps the British Legion to proceed their artwork to assist the widows and injured of conflict casualties to boot as fund many different centers and remembrance responsibilities pertaining to to British conflicts .

Answer 5

Here's my two cents' worth--I remember veterans groups selling artificial red poppies when I was a child, but it was always done around Memorial Day (May).

Nowadays, I still see veterans selling artificial flowers in November, but now they're blue--I think they're supposed to represent forget-me-nots rather than poppies.

Either way, the purpose is still the same--to remember our war veterans, the living, the dead, and the disabled.

And, yes, this was inspired by the casualties arising from World War I, so eloquently expressed by the poem "In Flanders Fields."

Answer 6

the Commonwealth troops in the first world war picked them on the way to the front line trenches that is how the red poppy came to be worn on 11 November it also was the only plant that would grow fast in the trenches it is said that the poppy plant was like the troops it was hard growing

Answer 7

It came in after the first world war I believe, to raise money for the wounded and injured soldiers. each petal is supposed to represent each soldier that was killed... and I heard that disabled people make the poppies, to raise money for them to and giving them a chance to work when they otherwise wouldn't be able to, that is why the poppies are put together like they are because it enables disabled people to "pop" them together quite easily.
that's also where the thing of a "Field of poppies" came from I think, representing the masses that were killed during war. a Field of poppies...that's a lot of petals..a lot of soldiers...
November is the end of World War ..11th hour on the 11/11/45 =memorial day, the day to remember the dead and injured.
it supports the soldiers wounded from any of the wars they have had to fight for this country, 1st ,2nd, gulf, Falkland, etc... so many wars ...so.. many people injured that still need our support which they deserve for putting their lives on the line for our sakes, to keep us safe, now we should help support them and keep them safe.
sorry not sure of exact dates, but I think the above is correct to the best of my knowledge.

Answer 8

Just go back as far as World War one Flanders and the fighting in the Poppy Fields, do they teach nothing in the schools today.

Answer 9

Poppies grow in ground that has been disturbed. It was noticed that in ground where there had been battles in World War 1 poppies bloomed. It was decided to use them as a symbol of the war.

Answer 10

to remember the war heroes in world war 1 and 2