Poppy Etiquette: Wearing the Remembrance Poppy With Respect

Each autumn, as the evenings draw in, the red poppy reappears on coats, lapels and handbags across Britain. It is one of the most widely recognised symbols in national life, worn by people of every age and background in the weeks before Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

This year, Remembrance Sunday falls on 8 November and Armistice Day on Wednesday 11 November. With the season fast approaching, it is a fitting moment to consider the quiet etiquette that surrounds the poppy, and the spirit in which it is worn.

Why the Poppy Matters

The poppy's association with Remembrance began on the battlefields of the First World War. According to the Royal British Legion, poppies sprang up across the churned earth of France and Belgium, and the sight moved the Canadian doctor John McCrae to write In Flanders Fields in May 1915.

The Legion adopted the poppy in 1921, and its first Poppy Appeal raised more than £100,000 to help veterans with housing and work. Today, the Legion describes the poppy as a symbol that remembers those who have served, shows support for today's Armed Forces community and expresses hope for a peaceful future.

When to Wear a Poppy

Most people begin wearing a poppy once the annual Poppy Appeal launches in late October, and continue until Armistice Day on 11 November. That fortnight or so is when poppies appear most widely, from offices and schools to television studios and the floor of Parliament.

The Royal British Legion notes that a poppy can be worn at any time of year by those who wish to show support for the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, past or present. There is no strict calendar, simply a long established custom of wearing one in the run up to Remembrance.

How to Wear It

Questions about the correct way to wear a poppy arise every year. Many people traditionally pin theirs on the left, close to the heart, and some say the leaf should point to eleven o'clock. These are customs rather than rules. The Legion describes wearing a poppy as a personal choice, and what matters most is that it is worn with respect.

A few gracious touches help. Pin the poppy securely so it is not lost on a blustery day, keep it in good condition, and replace it if it becomes crushed or torn. In Scotland, you will often see the Poppyscotland design, which has four petals and no leaf, a distinction worth knowing when travelling north of the border.

Giving Generously and Respecting Others

The poppy is a donation as much as an emblem. It is courteous to give something when you take one from a collector or a tray, and to buy from official Poppy Appeal sellers so that your contribution reaches the Armed Forces community.

Since 2023, the Legion's poppy has been made entirely from paper, following the introduction of a plastic-free design that can be recycled at home after Remembrance Sunday. Enamel pins and other keepsakes are also available for those who prefer a lasting emblem, and these too support the appeal.

Good manners extend to how we view the choices of others. Some people choose not to wear a poppy, and some prefer a different emblem altogether. Since the Legion itself frames wearing a poppy as a personal decision, it is gracious to avoid remarking on another person's lapel. Remembrance is about reflection, not judgement.

Marking Remembrance Sunday

On Remembrance Sunday and again on Armistice Day, the nation pauses for two minutes' silence at 11 o'clock. Whether you are at a service by a local war memorial, in a shop or at home, stopping quietly for those two minutes is the simplest act of respect.

If you attend a service, dress soberly, arrive in good time and follow the lead of those officiating. Children can be included gently, with a few words beforehand about what the silence means.

The poppy asks very little of us: a small donation, a moment's care in pinning it on and a willingness to pause. In return, it connects us with generations who served and with those who serve today.

This year, as the appeal begins, wear yours with quiet pride, give generously and keep the two minutes' silence wherever you are.