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Original poster

why do you wear a poppy?

411 replies

oiolehnvn · 06/11/2025 11:45

Lots of red poppies around us at the moment. Disclaimer I am not British but come from a country that is currently waging a war, in fact technically two countries that have been in the news for waging wars and have always been uncomfortable with people supporting or celebrating our army. I am therefore puzzled as to why the Brits wear poppies ever year. If you choose to wear one, what's your rationale? Equally, if you do not - what's yours?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 06/11/2025 18:13

Ohpleeeease · 06/11/2025 18:11

Sorry, yes I did know about the purple poppy, my point was that the red poppy does the job for everyone. Animals did lose their lives, they don’t need a special coloured poppy though.

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It's a way of raising money for animal charities though.

Needmorelego · 06/11/2025 18:12

@Ohpleeeease so it seems Animal Aid started selling purple poppies for remembrance of animals in war in 2006. I don't know why they chose purple.
They sold them until 2015 then changed to a purple paw print.
The purple poppy since 2016 has been sold on behalf of Murphy's Army a charity that supports working animals (not just military).
There also seems to have been a separate charity that sold purple poppies to raise money for a statue representing a "War Horse".

Ohpleeeease · 06/11/2025 18:11

Needmorelego · 06/11/2025 18:04

Purple is for animals who have served in war.
I am not sure why purple was chosen. I will have a Google....

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Sorry, yes I did know about the purple poppy, my point was that the red poppy does the job for everyone. Animals did lose their lives, they don’t need a special coloured poppy though.

Tooty78 · 06/11/2025 18:06

Freda69 · 06/11/2025 17:42

I wear a poppy to remember my grandfather and father who fought in WW1 and WW2, respectively, so that we could live in a free country. I still have all their medals.

I wear mine for my paternal grandad who along with his unit died in Belgium in WWI, he was only 24. Left a widow and two tiny children.

I wear mine for my Dad who was part of 'The Forgotten Army' fighting the Japanese in the jungles of Burma in WWII. Thankfully he came home safe and sound, when thousands of young men did not.

Needmorelego · 06/11/2025 18:04

Ohpleeeease · 06/11/2025 18:00

The red poppy is a graphic representation of bloodshed. That is the essence of war, blood shed and lives lost. The white poppy signifies nothing. Neither does the purple one, or any other colour of the sodding rainbow people choose to invoke.

Purple is for animals who have served in war.
I am not sure why purple was chosen. I will have a Google....

Ohpleeeease · 06/11/2025 18:00

The red poppy is a graphic representation of bloodshed. That is the essence of war, blood shed and lives lost. The white poppy signifies nothing. Neither does the purple one, or any other colour of the sodding rainbow people choose to invoke.

SpottyAardvark · 06/11/2025 17:58

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:55

Really? You can’t understand grief and need unless it’s actually yours?

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I just don’t do empty insincere virtue-signalling in general. It’s not restricted to poppies.

Audhumla · 06/11/2025 17:57

OP, you have used the words 'celebration' and 'celebrate' and I think it's really important to note that remembrance is not about celebration at all. It is not a happy thing, nor is it about glory or pride in my opinion.

It is a day for reflection. Gratitude to those who fought for our freedoms, yes, but mainly a deep sense of sorrow at all the lives that were lost or blighted in the world wars. Lest we forget and never again.

Marylou2 · 06/11/2025 17:56

I wear a poppy as my great Uncle died in WW1. He's buried in France. He was 17 years old. A child. He signed up at 16 and lied about his age. My poppy is for all allied soldiers who defended our freedom.

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:55

SpottyAardvark · 06/11/2025 17:54

I don’t wear a poppy because I have no family links with the military so Remembrance Day feels like someone else’s commemoration and one to which I feel no personal connection. Wearing a poppy would feel like insincere virtue-signalling. I do donate a few quid to the poppy seller, though. I just don’t take the poppy.

Really? You can’t understand grief and need unless it’s actually yours?

Uricon2 · 06/11/2025 17:55

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:46

Isaac Rosenburg is my favourite. he was a British Jew (from Whitechapel) @oiolehnvn his poems may speak to you. He didn’t survive.

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A brilliant poet and artist.

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:55

SapphireSeptember · 06/11/2025 17:52

There were plenty of other countries involved in the two world wars, and in other wars the UK have been involved in.

@Acafan Couldn't have said it better myself!

I've finally got around to buying myself a white poppy. Because I want to remember all who've been lost in wars. I hate war.

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Where does the money for white poppies go?
I hate war too, but I value the work the RBL does. Are funds from white poppies as well used?

SpottyAardvark · 06/11/2025 17:54

I don’t wear a poppy because I have no family links with the military so Remembrance Day feels like someone else’s commemoration and one to which I feel no personal connection. Wearing a poppy would feel like insincere virtue-signalling. I do donate a few quid to the poppy seller, though. I just don’t take the poppy.

SparklyGlitterballs · 06/11/2025 17:52

Lots of people, the majority men, fought to give us the freedoms we have today. Many lost their lives at a very young age. We should never forget the sacrifices they made yesterday, so that we have our tomorrow. I contribute to the poppy fund that supports our veterans, and the poppy is a small way of showing that I am thinking of those lost souls.

SapphireSeptember · 06/11/2025 17:52

HeyThereDelila · 06/11/2025 12:09

As you say, you’re not British so presumably have no appreciation of the destruction, sacrifice and magnitude of World War I and World War II.

I wear a poppy with pride to honour the sacrifices and hardships of men and women in those generations. A toll and hardships our generation wouldn’t have a clue about.

It’s not glorifying war - it’s honouring those who gave everything for our freedom.

There were plenty of other countries involved in the two world wars, and in other wars the UK have been involved in.

@Acafan Couldn't have said it better myself!

I've finally got around to buying myself a white poppy. Because I want to remember all who've been lost in wars. I hate war.

Rec0veringAcademic · 06/11/2025 17:51

HeyThereDelila · 06/11/2025 12:09

As you say, you’re not British so presumably have no appreciation of the destruction, sacrifice and magnitude of World War I and World War II.

I wear a poppy with pride to honour the sacrifices and hardships of men and women in those generations. A toll and hardships our generation wouldn’t have a clue about.

It’s not glorifying war - it’s honouring those who gave everything for our freedom.

With respect - this is an incredibly one-sided take at both wars. You do realize they were WORLD wars with innocent people from a multitude of nationalities killed, raped, mutilated, and robbed of their future??

Yes, even countries not in the Allied Forces.

I suggest you revisit the history corner in your local library.

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:47

Layer · 06/11/2025 17:44

I'm Irish I won't wear one - I gave money to the man at the door but I won't wear the symbol. I also think it's a bit crap that people who fought for their country have to rely on charity for support.

Agreed. But that’s true of all charities - they pick up the slack.

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:46

Uricon2 · 06/11/2025 17:27

On Remembrance Sunday, despite having many, many relatives who served in both world wars and other conflicts, my thoughts often go to this man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CharlesSorley

Captain Sorley, 20 years old and shaping up to be one of the most talented poets of his generation (he is well worth a read @oiolehnvn , like the other lost war poets he is certainly not glorifying it)

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Isaac Rosenburg is my favourite. he was a British Jew (from Whitechapel) @oiolehnvn his poems may speak to you. He didn’t survive.

Layer · 06/11/2025 17:44

I'm Irish I won't wear one - I gave money to the man at the door but I won't wear the symbol. I also think it's a bit crap that people who fought for their country have to rely on charity for support.

Freda69 · 06/11/2025 17:42

I wear a poppy to remember my grandfather and father who fought in WW1 and WW2, respectively, so that we could live in a free country. I still have all their medals.

BorgQueen · 06/11/2025 17:37

Russia has a long history of honouring their war dead, so OP is being very goady.
Tomb of the unknown soldier in Moscow anyone?

Barnestine · 06/11/2025 17:31

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:20

In fact, they are pretty much what the red poppy represents…

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Indeed!

ThreeB · 06/11/2025 17:28

SundaySunday3 · 06/11/2025 16:58

No I do not ‘always make shit up’.
you can read, I hope, the British legion say a percentage goes to veterans and the rest goes into the British legion- eg the military. Which of course contributes to future war.
it’s not difficult to understand, but perhaps it is for you.

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They mean supporting current service people, not the MOD

Uricon2 · 06/11/2025 17:27

cardibach · 06/11/2025 17:20

In fact, they are pretty much what the red poppy represents…

Show quote history

On Remembrance Sunday, despite having many, many relatives who served in both world wars and other conflicts, my thoughts often go to this man

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CharlesSorley

Captain Sorley, 20 years old and shaping up to be one of the most talented poets of his generation (he is well worth a read @oiolehnvn , like the other lost war poets he is certainly not glorifying it)

BatchCookBabe · 06/11/2025 17:25

cityanalyst678 · 06/11/2025 17:24

One second asking the question on ChatGPT would give all the answers.
They gave their today for our tomorrow.
Says it all.

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Yep. I don't think the OP created this thread to 'learn' anything. Wink