The Poppy: Symbol of Remembrance Day 🌺

Why do we wear poppies on Remembrance Day? During the First World War, millions of soldiers saw the poppies in Flanders fields on the Western Front. Some even sent pressed poppies home in letters. Over 100 years later, the poppy is still a world-recognised symbol of remembrance of the First World War, and millions of people choose to wear a red remembrance poppy in November. But when did this tradition start? What is it about the poppy that captured the public imagination so profoundly? And why do some people see the poppy as a controversial symbol? First World War Curator Laura Clouting tells us about the history of the poppy.

The artworks Wave & Weeping Window by Paul Cummings and designer Tom Piper went on tour around the UK between 2015 and 2018, and ended with displays at IWM North and IWM London. These artworks will now be permanently installed at IWM North in November 2021. Find out more: https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/poppies

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View and licence the film clips used in this video: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/1452

Credits:
Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, Wave, and Weeping Window by Paul Cummings and Tom Piper
Images of Anna Guérin, Earl Haig, 1920s and 1930s poppy sellers © Heather Anne Johnson: https://poppyladymadameguerin.wordpress.com/
Pressed poppy on paper: Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0
Photo of Poppy factory Richmond: Nickeaglesfield, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of Poppy factory Edinburgh: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA

#history #ww1 #armistice