Poppy Day

Poppy Day

11^th of November of 1918 is the date when the First World War, also called the Great War ended.

In Poland on the same day we celebrate the National Independence Day commemorating the anniversary of, just as the name says, the Polish Independence. It is worth mentioning that Poland basically didn’t exist on the maps because for 123 years we were partitioned by Austria-Hungary, Germany (at that time Prussia) and Russia.

However, this is not what I wanted to talk to you about. Have you ever heard of Poppy Day, if not, stay with me and find out what it is!

The 11^th hour  of the 11^th  day of the 11^th  month

Poppy Day, also known as Remembrance Day in Britain and Veteran's day in America is part of British culture, customs and tradition, although it’s  not only celebrated in Britain. 

Every year people gather together to commemorate not only the sacrifice of soldiers, servicemen and nurses but also the pain, hunger and death of civilians in times of war.

Traditionally, there’s a two-minute silence on the eleventh hour of eleventh day of the eleventh month, so it would be the 11^th of November but nowadays in the UK we can also observe ceremonies on the Sunday following November 11th.

During that day there are many church services around the UK and wreaths of poppies are placed on war memorials all around the country. Moreover, individual people place small wooden crosses in Gardens of Remembrance as a sign of memory and respect for those who died during the war.

But what brings the most attention is the fact that you see many people in the streets wearing little poppies on their coats and jackets and also you can see poppies placed on cars. It’s a beautiful way of saying that they remember the people who gave up their lives so that we could live in a peaceful world and will always be in their hearts.  

You probably wonder why a poppy is the flower that is associated with that day, well there’s an appealing story behind that wonderful tradition that I would like tell you shortly.

Colonel John McCrae wrote a poem called 'In Flanders Fields' where he captured the image of British people who were waiting for many young soldiers who didn’t get the chance to return. He died in a French hospital but before that he had said to the doctor "Tell them this . . . If you break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep."
In a reply to those words an American woman Miss Moina Michael* wrote a poem and to commemorate those who died, she brought 25 poppies and wore one herself as a way to say that she won’t forget. After that, a French woman came up with an idea to make artificial poppies and sell them in order to help ex-service men and their dependants in need. And that’s how it led to Britain's first Poppy Day in 1921. All the money raised was given to help the children in war-devastated areas. Nowadays, The Royal British Legion produces poppies in its own factory. The goal is to provide help in time of need to all those who have served in the armed forces, their widows and dependants.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

     Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow            
In Flanders fields.

 * The Flanders Fields Red Poppy was first created as a symbol of remembrance by an American teacher; Miss Moina Belle Michael.