What date do you start wearing a poppy for Remembrance Day?
THE poppy has become a symbol of remembrance for those who tragically lost their lives defending the country in armed conflict around the globe.
The money raised is used to help those in need – such as veterans or people who were injured in the line of duty.
When do we start wearing a poppy for Remembrance Day?
The Poppy Appeal takes place every year throughout the month of November.
It is run by the British Legion to raise funds for vulnerable people in the armed forces community, including veterans.
This year, Remembrance Sunday takes place on November 14.
There is no hard and fast rule about wearing a poppy and the British Legion says you can wear a poppy any time you like.
Many people start wearing poppies on October 31 – some 12 days before Remembrance Day.
Others believe they shouldn’t be worn until after Bonfire Night on November 5.
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Donations are usually given to volunteers selling poppies on the street, but money can also be given by phone, text message and online, as well as by post.
Why do we wear poppies?
The British Legion describes the poppy as a “symbol of remembrance and hope”.
The story of why we wear poppies dates back to the First World War.
In 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae lost his friend in the battle of Ypres.
As he was grieving the loss of comrade Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, he spotted scores of poppies growing in the battle-torn fields.
This poignant sight inspired him to write In Flanders Fields, one of the most famous war poems of all time.
Following the WWI, the poppy was then adopted as a symbol of remembrance.
In 1921, the first ever Poppy Appeal distributed nine million poppies, raising £106,000.
When is Remembrance Day 2021?
Remembrance Day is always marked on November 11 – this year a Thursday – and is a memorial to those members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.
A two-minute silence occurs at 11am and is observed by schools, offices and churches up and down the country.
The tradition was first started by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I.
Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month”, in accordance with the armistice.
The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day.
Last year, the government gave the go-ahead for local authorities to organise services and acts of remembrance despite the coronavirus pandemic – but restrictions in place at the time had to be adhered to.
While lockdown has lifted in 2021, Brits will still be encouraged to act carefully and take any necessary precautions.