Mirror

Remembrance Day 2021: What side to wear your poppy ahead of day of reflection

Mirror logo Mirror 06.11.2021 13:15:59 Harry Thompson
The poppy is a symbol of remembrance for those that have fallen

It's remembrance season in the Commonwealth, as people once again take time to reflect and remember those that have fallen in conflict.

For many this will mean donning the Royal British Legion 's iconic poppy, a symbol of the flowers that grew from the graves of those who fell on the Western Front in the First World War.

However, despite this familiar design and annual appearances, there remains some debate about where best to wear them.

Which side should your poppy go on?

The most common answer to this question is the left hand lapel, but there remains no definitive rule about this.

The logic behind wearing a poppy on your left is that it is closest to your heart, and in doing so we keep those that made the sacrifice close to it as well.

However, depending on which tradition you uphold, some claim that only men should wear it on the left while women wear it on the right. This is because it corresponds with the traditional places men and women would wear brooches and badges.

However, the British Legion, who run the Poppy Appeal campaign, say there is no single correct way to wear a poppy, just that people do and do so "with pride".

Where does Poppy Appeal money go?

The money is designated for the support of the armed forces, their families and their dependants.

The first Poppy Appeal took place in 1921, three years after the armistice to end the First World War.

The British Legion's theme for the campaign this year is "Every Poppy Counts", with the charity hoping for a successful year following severely hampered efforts due to last year's pandemic.

The familiar sights of street sellers were missing for a year, while the traditional Whitehall parade at the Cenotaph attended by the Queen and the Prime Minister was severely limited, with the public unable to attend.

This year things should be somewhat back to normal, with people wanting to pay their respects able to purchase poppies and other symbols of remembrance from shops, street sellers and the British Legion's online shop.

While they traditionally go on sale in late October, it is now understood they can be bought all year round on their website.

When should you start wearing your poppy?

As well as the debate about, there's also one about when. Some people believe you should start wearing you poppy at the beginning of November, while others think that the start of October is the correct time.

The most common however is October 31, which is 11 days before the 11th day - the day of the armistice.

samedi 6 novembre 2021 15:15:59 Categories: Mirror

ShareButton
ShareButton
ShareButton
  • RSS

Suomi sisu kantaa
NorpaNet Beta 1.1.0.18818 - Firebird 5.0 LI-V6.3.2.1497

TetraSys Oy.

TetraSys Oy.