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Since 1921, the poppy has been used to commemorate military members who have died in wars. The red flower is mostly associated with the U.K. and Commonwealth countries for Remembrance Day on Nov ...
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. [1] The day is also marked by war remembrances in several other non-Commonwealth countries.
A remembrance poppy is an artificial flower worn in some countries to commemorate their military personnel who died in war. Remembrance poppies are produced by veterans' associations, which exchange the poppies for charitable donations used to give financial, social and emotional support to members and veterans of the armed forces.
It is a common theme in British tabloid journalism in October and November to "expose" politicians and celebrities who have chosen not to wear a red Royal British Legion poppy. Critics have labelled this "poppy fascism", [27] as persons who refuse to wear poppies on TV or at sporting events have received death threats. [28] [29]
The black poppy, launched in 2010 by Selena Carty, acknowledges the contributions that African, Black, Caribbean and Pacific Islands communities have made to various wars since the 16th century.
Famously, First World War veteran Harry Leslie Smith refused to wear a poppy at all, and newsreader John Snow resisted what he called “poppy fascism” after calls for him to wear one on TV.
In France, the bleuet de France is the symbol of memory for, and solidarity with, veterans, victims of war, widows, and orphans, similar to the Commonwealth remembrance poppy. The sale of "bleuet de France" badges on 11 November and 8 May is used to finance charitable works for those causes. [1]
In other countries, the timing differs slightly—and generally speaking, the poppy is arguably better known as a symbol of remembrance in other parts of the world.