I never knew...

[Helene]

Was watching the news this morning and noticed that the majority of people (BBC) were wearing their poppies on the left, Google time... Never knew it should be worn on the left as close to the heart as possible. Been wearing a poppy as long as I can remember, even back as far as my Grandad pinning one onto me every morning to go to school. Have just been through all my jackets, got it right 50% of the time. Just thought I'd share this nugget of information, seems important.

[Jus1]

I didn't know that either as it happens .. you got me wondering why it is the Poppy flower when I read this ... so also googled and found this info ..>>

Scarlet poppies (popaver rhoeas) grow naturally in conditions of disturbed earth throughout Western Europe. The destruction brought by the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th Century transformed bare land into fields of blood red poppies, growing around the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

In late 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders were once again ripped open as the First World War raged through Europe's heart.

The significance of the poppy as a lasting memorial symbol to the fallen was realised by the Canadian surgeon John McCrae in his poem "In Flanders Fields". The poppy came to represent the immeasurable sacrifice made by his comrades and quickly became a lasting memorial to those who died in the First World War and later conflicts.

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

By John McCrae 1915

[Kylie]

I am surprised, and quited saddened, that they do not teach these things in school. Even those who are very anti-war can find significance in remembrance day, to everyone it has a different meaning, and if someone can find no other reason to observe the silence it should be out of respect to those who have lost loved ones.

[Jus1]

Reading on the BBC Website "Have Your Say" bit - ref this white poppy Bull****.

found this comment posted -

Added: Thursday, 9 November, 2006, 12:53 GMT 12:53 UK

I bought a poppy yesterday from a highly decorated veteran, who said to me "Thankyou son, much obliged to you" to which I replied "No Sir, thankyou I am much obliged to you". He very nearly cried. These men put their lives on the line so we could have the freedom so many people take for granted. Quit with the PC rubbish and lets just show some respect for our fellow country men. [PaulyBow]


... FOOKIN TOP THAT IS ... :cool:

[Violetmay]

I always get two poppies, one for me, and one for 'charlie', my ex's grandad who became my surrogate grandad, he died some years ago now, but always used to ask me to fetch him a poppy, I still do. Bless you Charlie and all your comrades past and present who fought/fight/defend for us.

[John Hopkins]

The main reason the poppies grew was that soldiers used to carry opium for pain and that is the sap of the poppy..if they could not afford the opium they used to carry poppy seeds to chew..and also to take home and grow for their own pain killers..when so many men died in Flanders the seeds in their pockets grew where there corpses rotted! after the war the people who came to see where their loved ones died took it as a message from god that he had taken them and left a marker!John

[Helene]

I always knew why it was the poppy, with grandfather, father and brothers in the military these kinda things get drummed into you at an early age, which is I feel, the way it should be. Hopefully the new 'citizenship' classes they are proposing for schools will explain more of this to the younger generations who in the main seem oblivious to the need never to forget.

At least I now know I'm wearing my poppy not only with pride but on the correct side too.

[Kylie]

The main reason the poppies grew was that soldiers used to carry opium for pain and that is the sap of the poppy..if they could not afford the opium they used to carry poppy seeds to chew..and also to take home and grow for their own pain killers..when so many men died in Flanders the seeds in their pockets grew where there corpses rotted! after the war the people who came to see where their loved ones died took it as a message from god that he had taken them and left a marker!John

I've never heard that before - where did you hear that one?

I always understood it was because poppy seeds lie dormant for many years until disturbed, and that it was the disturbance caused by the fighting that caused them to grow.

[Kingo]

Was watching the news this morning and noticed that the majority of people (BBC) were wearing their poppies on the left, Google time... Never knew it should be worn on the left as close to the heart as possible. Been wearing a poppy as long as I can remember, even back as far as my Grandad pinning one onto me every morning to go to school. Have just been through all my jackets, got it right 50% of the time. Just thought I'd share this nugget of information, seems important.


Hi Helene,
It is usual for Gents to wear the poppies on the left, and Ladies to wear them on the right.
This started a long time ago, because ladies button holes are on the right side enabling them to wear an emblem on that side, as is done at weddings.

[John Hopkins]

I've never heard that before - where did you hear that one?

I always understood it was because poppy seeds lie dormant for many years until disturbed, and that it was the disturbance caused by the fighting that caused them to grow.

Thats like asking me to remember who taught me to read! It's something I have known all of my life..Opium was used as a base for most of our medicines until as recently as the 1940s. The last one I remember was Dr Collis brown's cough medicine..If you do a google on poppys, or opium, or Flanders you may find out more!John

[Kylie]

Thats like asking me to remember who taught me to read! It's something I have known all of my life..Opium was used as a base for most of our medicines until as recently as the 1940s. The last one I remember was Dr Collis brown's cough medicine..If you do a google on poppys, or opium, or Flanders you may find out more!John

I did a google and couldnt find it.

It all makes sense, just surprised I hadn't heard that reason before. My Grandad was RAF and Grandpa Army both in WWII, and my Grandpa is a Doctor. I'll have to ask him about that one, he generally never mentions the war whereas my Grandad has been known to, I know much more about what he did.

Now my Gran on the other hand... she was a right one! Used to sneak out of the nurses dorm to go to dances with the American soldiers!!!! (before she met my Grandpa I might add!) She told me a lot of her antics before she died :)

[Kylie]

According to my Grandpa (who is only usually known to be wrong when it comes to the subject of bikers... who he ain't keen on!!!) the poppies at flanders are not opium poppies, and opium poppy seeds would be no good as they're so fine so would fall through peoples pockets and wouldnt be much good as pain killers.

He could of course be wrong!

[dkneil]

this might help solve the question

www.opioids.com/poppy.html

[dkneil]

just found this aswell


www.siu.edu/~ebl/leaflets/opium.htm


To obtain opium from Papaver somniferum is a very easy thing to do. It is a very common plant and is easy to purchase. The seeds can be planted and little care is needed to grow healthy plants. When the flowers turn to seed, the seed pods are slightly incised and a white milky liquid is dispersed. The liquid is allowed to seep out and dry for a few hours. The white liquid will turn to black when it is exposed to air and is scraped out of the pod. This is the raw product used to make opiates. After the opium is extracted it is purified to opium alkaloids. There are manufactured alkaloid derivatives that include dihydromorphine, dihydrocodeine and heroin. The alkaloids can be of two different types. One type acts on the nervous system and are addictive to the human body. The other form is not addicting and instead relax muscle groups.

[Sludge Van Diesel]

I always wear mine on the left, that's where the lapel buttonholes on my suits are.

I've just looked up at the telly,the silly cow on Emmerdale (the dippy one married to the vicar, don't know who she is, I don't watch it) has hers on the right

[Kingo]

Ladies button holes are on the right, that is the reason they wear the poppies there, whether they are wearing anything with button holes or not.
Having sold poppies for a number of years now, it still surprises me that quite a few ladies are unaware which side to wear the poppy, they tell me that the reason they put it on the left is because they are right handed so it's easier.
At a wedding the ladies wear their corsage (spelling) on the right side which is the correct side.
It all comes down to that old fashioned word.
ETIQUETTE

[Kylie]

I've just looked up at the telly,the silly cow on Emmerdale (the dippy one married to the vicar, don't know who she is, I don't watch it) has hers on the right

The news reporters etc (female ones) were wearing theirs on the left - I suppose its the way of the world now. Many of the traditions were set when ladies had servants to dress them so the buttons on shirts were done up the other way to make it easier for the servants. Perhaps women do find it easier to pin things on the left, I wear mine on the right as its easier for me to pin it on there!

Yes there's etiquette, but I don't think the side you wear your poppy is *that* important in the grand scheme of things is it? Surely the fact that people are wearing them, remembering the sacrifices made and donating to the RBL to assist those who need it is more important than where the poppy is worn?

[Kingo]

I suppose it's just me in my old age, still thinking how things used to be.
Some good some not so good.
Just think of me as a rambling old man. :D

[Kylie]

I suppose it's just me in my old age, still thinking how things used to be.
Some good some not so good.
Just think of me as a rambling old man. :D

We all have our pet hates Kingo - even us younger people!

The email that knocks around about how are we still alive always makes me grin, just cos things were so much better when I was a kid and we actually had to entertain ourselves instead of being glued to cable kids tv and games consoles.

[Kingo]

We all have our pet hates Kingo - even us younger people!

The email that knocks around about how are we still alive always makes me grin, just cos things were so much better when I was a kid and we actually had to entertain ourselves instead of being glued to cable kids tv and games consoles.

Your right I suppose Kylie.
My pet hate when I was a kid was when the coal-man came.
he used to dump 5 tons of loose coal in the street and it was my job to shovel it into a wheelbarrow round to the back of the house to the coalhouse, it used to take me hours.

[Kylie]

Your right I suppose Kylie.
My pet hate when I was a kid was when the coal-man came.
he used to dump 5 tons of loose coal in the street and it was my job to shovel it into a wheelbarrow round to the back of the house to the coalhouse, it used to take me hours.

At least our coal man was polite enough to bring it in bags! And I was too little to be asked to shift it but I remember my Dad whinging like hell!

[Sludge Van Diesel]

Ladies button holes are on the right, that is the reason they wear the poppies there, whether they are wearing anything with button holes or not.
Having sold poppies for a number of years now, it still surprises me that quite a few ladies are unaware which side to wear the poppy, they tell me that the reason they put it on the left is because they are right handed so it's easier.
At a wedding the ladies wear their corsage (spelling) on the right side which is the correct side.
It all comes down to that old fashioned word.
ETIQUETTE
I didn't say she was wrong, I just happened to look up & there she was, poppy on the right.

[Freak]

The main reason the poppies grew was that soldiers used to carry opium for pain and that is the sap of the poppy..if they could not afford the opium they used to carry poppy seeds to chew..and also to take home and grow for their own pain killers..when so many men died in Flanders the seeds in their pockets grew where there corpses rotted! after the war the people who came to see where their loved ones died took it as a message from god that he had taken them and left a marker!John
That's a complete load of bollocks


I always understood it was because poppy seeds lie dormant for many years until disturbed, and that it was the disturbance caused by the fighting that caused them to grow.

Spot on. Papaver rhoeas are the red native poppies of western Europe
Papaver somniferum L. is an annual poppy native to south eastern Europe and western Asia

[Kingo]

I didn't say she was wrong, I just happened to look up & there she was, poppy on the right.

Hi SVD,
I wasn't having a go at personally.
I was just stating what it was like when I was a kid a long long time ogo :D