At Taras Florist we have a history lesson for you. The First World War was one of the most devastating wars in the history of humanity. Thousands of lives were lost and civilizations decimated to the ground. After the war ended in 1918 after the signing of the Armistice, till today, all countries of the commonwealth remember the sacrifices the military made to fight for their countries and their pride.
This is what is known as Remembrance Day. It takes place on the 11th of November every year and is marked by a two-minute silence to respect those that lost their lives during the war. During this celebrations, you will notice people wearing artificial flowers which are commonly referred to as the poppy. Even though it is a common flower, it is not the prettiest which begs the question: What is the essence of the poppy during Remembrance Day?
The history of the poppy
The history of the significance of the poppy with regards to Remembrance Day dates back to the time after the end of the war. In a poem known as the “In Flanders Fields” the poppies are recognised as the flowers that grew up in the fields where the soldiers were buried in Flanders. Thanks to the poem and the growth of the poppies, they have since become the enduring symbol of the remembrance of the First World War.
The Poppies were a very common sight especially on the Western Front. They thrived on the soil that was churned up by the fighting and shelling. The first artificial poppy was sold in Britain in the year 1921 which was a couple of years after the ending of the war.
The significance of the poppies
As much as they have their role deeply embedded in the fighting fields, the poppies still play a very significant role during Remembrance Day in today’s community. The artificial flowers are put together by volunteers and for civilians to be able to get a poppy to attach to their clothes, they have to make a donation. The donations are directed to the Earl Haig fund which helps all the soldiers who are still alive and whose lives were changed by the war or its effects and the families of those who passed on.
There are other charities that also sell their poppies but these are in different colours and each of them has its own meaning. But, the primary goal remains the same.
The Red Poppy is an emblem of remembrance and hope. Even though the colour has been interpreted differently by different people over the past, the Royal British Legion which is one of the main charities associated with the poppy stresses that the red poppy should not be related to blood or support for war and death.
Other colours of the poppy that are also used during Remembrance Day include the white poppy which stands for peace and the purple poppy which represents all the animals that were killed in the war.
The poppy is worn by millions of people around the world and the colour that you choose largely depends on your beliefs. But without a doubt, this resilient flower serves as a symbol of remembrance for all the people and animals that sacrificed and fought in the First World War.