Lest We Forget

History of the Poppy

The poppy has a deep and symbolic history, particularly tied to remembrance and honoring fallen soldiers.

The association of the poppy with wartime remembrance traces back to World War I and the poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae.

McCrae wrote the poem in 1915 after seeing red poppies growing across the battlefields of Belgium and northern France, where many soldiers had died.

His poem begins, “In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row,” capturing the juxtaposition of beauty and loss.

A Frenchwoman named Anna Guérin took up the cause in Europe, and by 1921, the British Legion had adopted the red poppy as a symbol of remembrance in the United Kingdom.

Since then, the poppy has become an enduring symbol, especially in Commonwealth countries, worn in November to mark Remembrance Day or Veterans Day.

Red symbolises the blood of soldiers who died in battle, as well as the resilience and beauty of the poppy flowers that grew on the devastated fields of Flanders.

The red petals reflect sacrifice and valor, creating a visual reminder of the cost of war and the lives lost.

The poppy's red hue serves as a reminder of the price paid for peace and freedom, and why it must be remembered.

Green on the poppy’s stem and leaves represents the regeneration of life, hope, and resilience. Amid the devastation of war, the poppy plant’s ability to grow and flourish in ravaged soil showed nature’s power to heal and renew. The green in the poppy symbol evokes this sense of hope and renewal, as well as the endurance of life despite hardship.

Traditionally, poppies are worn on the left side, close to the heart, as a mark of respect for the fallen. The left side is also where military medals are worn, reinforcing the poppy’s connection to remembrance and honor. Some prefer the poppy to face upward with the leaf pointing to 11 o’clock, symbolizing the end of World War I, which officially concluded on the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918.

While there are variations in how people wear their poppies, the importance lies in the symbolism: honoring lives lost in war, reflecting on the costs of conflict, and promoting a message of hope and peace for the future.

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