During autumn, it’s not unusual to start noticing people wearing a poppy whether a paper version or a pin badge.
The poppy has been used as a symbol of respect for the servicemen and women who lost their lives during the war for over a century.
The red poppy is instantly recognisable as the emblem for Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
As the inspiration behind John McCrae's moving poem 'In Flanders Fields,' the flower became synonymous with remembering those who lost their lives in the Great War.
Why do we wear poppies on Remembrance Day?
From 1921, Artificial poppies started to be sold as a means of raising money for the Earl Hague Fund which supported ex-servicemen and families of those who did not come home.
The following year, the British Legion opened a factory staffed by wounded ex-servicemen which continues its important work to this day.
For more information, visit the Imperial War Museum website.
The symbol has only grown, with other charities adopting the flower in different colours to convey distinct meanings.
Black poppy meaning on Remembrance Day
The Black poppy is a fairly recent addition, having only been launched in 2010.
Selena Carty set it up and it is worn to remember the African, Black Peoples, West Indian, Caribbean, Pacific Islands & Indigenous communities' contributions in the great wars.
The Black Poppy Rose organisation, which recently redesigned the poppies, shared the meaning behind their new logo on its website.
The history of Remembrance Day
The organisation explained: "The BlackPoppyRose is a symbol for us to remember not only the soldiers, but also the peoples, of African/Black/West Indian/Caribbean/Pacific Islands & Indigenous communities who contributed in any way for the War effort."
Purple poppy meaning on Remembrance Day
Purple poppies were introduced back in 2006 by the charity Animal Aid as a way of remembering the animals that lost their lives at war.
The charity started the appeal because it felt the animals that die at war – which tend to mostly be horses and dogs – are often forgotten.
White poppy meaning on Remembrance Day
White poppies serve as a pacifist symbol of remembrance of the war.
According to the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), the body which distributes them today, white poppies represent three things.
Recommended reading:
- Why does the Scottish poppy look so different to the one used elsewhere?
- Why we wear poppies for Remembrance Day and when to start wearing them
- Children in Need reveals presenter lineup with Vernon Kay, Rochelle Humes and more
These are remembrance for all victims of war, commitment to peace and a challenge to war and militarism.
It intends to commemorate all victims of all wars – both military and civilians of all nationalities.
You can find out more about white poppies and support the campaign via the website.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here