The Poppy should be worn with respect on the left side, over the heart. The Legion's lapel Poppy is a sacred symbol of Remembrance and should not be affixed with any pin that obstructs the Poppy.
How is the Poppy worn? The Poppy should be worn with respect on the left breast, close to the heart.
According to the Royal British Legion: “There is no right or wrong way to wear a Poppy – except to wear it with pride.” The charity adds: “You can wear a Poppy all year round but traditionally people stop wearing a Poppy after Armistice Day on 11th November or Remembrance Sunday, whichever is later.”
While intentions may be good, technically it's not appropriate to wear a poppy on your hat, your pants or on your knapsack, and even wearing it on the wrong side of your coat should be avoided.
Wearing a poppy (on the left breast or lapel) is more common in Australia on and around Remembrance Day, 11 November.
Republic of Ireland international and Wigan Athletic footballer James MacLean has also refused to wear a poppy, angering many fans.
We often hear people debating the 'correct' way to wear a poppy, but the truth is, unless you're currently serving, there is no 'correct' way. It's a matter of personal choice whether someone chooses to wear a poppy and how they choose to wear it. We simply ask that if you do wear a poppy, you wear it with pride.
But The Veterans Say No, It's Not Offensive. According to a 2021 Metro article: “The official stance of the Royal British Legion is that you can wear a poppy any time during the year as it commemorates those who lost their lives in war.”
Some women in the 1930s lost their jobs for wearing white poppies, with some veterans having felt that the white poppy undermined their contribution and the lasting meaning of the red poppy. However, the Royal British Legion has stated it has no objection to the white poppy being worn alongside the red poppy.
The black poppy is a symbol that commemorates all those who have died, and are still dying, due to war and its legacy. It remembers dead soldiers, dead civilians, dead conscientious objectors. It remembers those who have fallen victim to invasion, occupation, gender-based violence, starvation and poverty.
It represents “remembrance for all victims of war, a commitment to peace and a challenge to attempts to glamorise or celebrate war,” the PPU explained.
Wearing a poppy is a show of support for the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families. It represents all those who lost their lives on active service, from the beginning of the First World War right up to present day.
The issue is not a theological one, there is no Catholic Church rule to say we should not wear poppies or remember the military dead. For Catholics living here I would suggest it is different for historical reasons and because of all the “political baggage” that we attach to wearing a poppy.
After Jaime loses his hand, he refuses milk of the poppy because he knows it will put him to sleep, and Qyburn, who is attending him, thinks he should amputate Jaime's entire arm. Jaime wants the stump cleaned and the arm saved instead.
In the United States, however, the tradition has unfolded differently. We don't typically wear poppies on Veterans Day, since that time is set aside to honor all living veterans. Instead, we don a red poppy on Memorial Day to honor the men and women who have died fighting for our country.
In 1918, in response to McCrae's poem, American humanitarian Moina Michael wrote 'And now the Torch and Poppy Red, we wear in honor of our dead…'. She campaigned to make the poppy a symbol of remembrance of those who had died in the war.
According to the Royal British Legion: “There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy – except to wear it with pride.” The charity adds: “You can wear a Poppy all year round but traditionally people stop wearing a Poppy after Armistice Day on 11 November or Remembrance Sunday, whichever is later.”
What is an acceptable colour or style of poppy? The colour and style of a poppy should not make a difference, according to Ferguson. She said it's the meaning behind it for the person sporting the poppy that really matters. It doesn't matter if you have a knitted one, a beaded one or even a white one.
Why do the royals wear multiple poppies? Curiously, it's never been officially confirmed by the palace, but one theory is that the royal family wears multiple poppy brooches in honour of family members who have fought and died at war.
Poppies symbolise remembrance at other times as well as on Anzac Day. The red poppy can be seen at major commemorative events, at military funerals and at war graves and cemeteries in New Zealand and around the world.
Our red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. The poppy is a well-known and well-established symbol, one that carries a wealth of history and meaning with it.
Three million poppies are sent to 120 countries outside the UK, says Nick Buckley, head of the legion's Poppy Appeal. These are mostly for British expats living in countries such as Spain, Germany and France, he says.
- Yellow poppies represent optimism and the ability to look on the bright side as well as positive memories of people who have died. - White poppies signify innocence and purity and are associated with faith and the eternal soul.
And someone else penned: “Why on earth would he wear a poppy, he's not British and it's a personal choice. "Graham Norton chose to wear one, that's his choice and he's entitled to do so if he wishes, but that doesn't mean that all his guests have to stick one in their lapel."
The white poppy is worn by people of all religions and none. For many Christians, it is an enduring reflection of Christ's message that there is another way than war and that peace is the answer. Throughout his ministry on Earth, Jesus consistently spoke against violence and in favour of peace.