You are not alone. The Do’s and Don’ts of Poppy etiquette are debated near and far.
My line of inquiry began when I came across this Facebook post a few days ago, originating from a Daily Mail (UK) article:
A lovely military man selling poppies stopped me today and asked if he could reposition mine – while doing so he told me that women should wear their poppy on their right side; the red represents the blood of all those who gave their lives, the black represents the mourning of those who didn’t have their loved ones return home, and the green leaf represents the grass and crops growing and future prosperity after the war destroyed so much. The leaf should be positioned at 11 o’clock to represent the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the time that World War One formally ended. He was worried that younger generations wouldn’t understand this and his generation wouldn’t be around for much longer to teach them.
It made sense. The veteran’s advice has reportedly been shared more than 500,000 times and counting [at the time of first publishing the blog]. It got me thinking. I thought I’d check out from a range of sources the background of, and stance from others in the know, regarding our Anzac poppy and how to wear it respectfully.
In New Zealand, remembrance poppies don’t have green leaves, however in England they do (hence the veteran’s comments on the intentional positioning at 11 o’clock, if that had you puzzled). Regardless of whether it is a traditional feature or not, it sounds a wonderful way to remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – Armistice Day. Read More: Daily Mail
New Zealand Poppy Wearing Etiquette
However, I learned many years ago to seek many views in order to establish a balanced opinion.
My first port of call was our very own Ministry for Culture and Heritage (NZ) who could neither confirm or deny the ‘right way’ but lead me to discover some interesting articles to ponder, which I refer to below.
A recap: a brief history of the poppy used as a symbol
The poppy was adopted as a symbol of remembrance and hope after World War I and was inspired by Lt Col John McCrae’s now famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. He wrote it in 1915 after seeing poppies growing in the battlefields: History of the Anzac Poppy. In 1918 a YMCA Overseas War Secretaries’ Headquarters worker from New York, Miss Moina Michael, vowed to ‘keep the faith’ and to wear a red poppy of Flanders Fields as a symbol of remembrance, made from silk and pinned to her collar.
Long story short, in the early 1920’s French widows handmade thousands of poppies to be distributed around the world. Over the years the poppy design has undergone several changes and today’s design was adopted in 1978.
Poignantly pinned poppy positions
Otago Daily Times article quotes Mosgiel Memorial RSA board of trustees chairman saying the protocol for wearing medals is ”if you have won the medals yourself, you wear them on the left side. If you are wearing a relative’s medals they go on the right side…There is ”no hard and fast rule” for wearing poppies…I always wear mine on the left, but some wear them behind their RSA badge, which always goes on the right.” he says. Read More: Otago Daily Times
BBC News reported back in 2009: “Some people say left, as it’s worn over the heart … others say only the Queen and Royal Family are allowed to wear a poppy on the right, which isn’t true. Then there is the school of thought that says men should wear theirs on the left and women on the right, as is the traditional custom with a badge or brooch”. Read More: BBC News UK
The jury is still out to be honest, as to which side of the chest or collar the poppy should be pinned. However, all things considered, general consensus appears to be favouring the left breast.
Anzac Day Remembrance
2020: In Lockdown Level 4, we #standatdawn in our bubbles at letterboxes, in driveways, in our gardens or porches, at 6am to remember our fallen, apart yet together as a nation.
Most people wear their poppy for several days before Anzac Day, and traditionally place it on their local war memorial or cenotaph as a mark of respect at the conclusion of a commemorative event.
When all is said and done, there is no ‘correct’ way to wear your poppy. The best way to wear one is simply with pride. The poppy is a symbol of remembrance and hope. Adopting personal, meaningful wearable ways gets my tick of approval.
In 2016 I spent Anzac morning with my boys in reflection and in attendance at the Devonport Parade and Service in Auckland. Virtually ALL wore the poppy on their left. Virtually = the majority, just a few right-wearers spotted at the tail end of the parade and a sprinkling of supporters.
My information from the Royal British Legion is that the poppy is to be worn with pride. Many like to maintain the convention that it’s worn on the left by men and the right by women. What’s important is that it remains a symbol of remembrance.
Absolutely agree Sean, it’s the symbol of remembrance most definitely.>>Julie