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Poppy Day
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:poppy day
n. — originally Military, now widespread
also Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, held November 11th to mark the end of World War I.
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Poppy Day appeared in the UK London Times in 1921, two weeks before it was mentioned by The Globe and Mail. Poppy Day has been used throughout the Commonwealth as an alternative to both Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day, originally called Armistice Day, became the official name of this day for Canada in 1931 (see Veterans Affairs Canada reference).
The use of the poppy as a symbol for the blood sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the war was inspired by the famous poem "In Flanders Fields", written in 1915 by Canadian military physician John McCrae (1872-1918) (see the 1995 quotation). Before Remembrance Day, replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for veterans and other causes (see Image 1). The term is most frequent in Canada today (see Chart 1) and is thus both a preservation and a Canadianism in terms of frequency, yet its most relevant category is its cultural significance to official Canada and many Canadians.
Poppy Day is most prevalent in Canada according to internet domain searches (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Poppy Day", which is marked "Brit. & Cdn".
The use of the poppy as a symbol for the blood sacrifice of the soldiers who died in the war was inspired by the famous poem "In Flanders Fields", written in 1915 by Canadian military physician John McCrae (1872-1918) (see the 1995 quotation). Before Remembrance Day, replica poppies are sold by the Royal Canadian Legion to raise money for veterans and other causes (see Image 1). The term is most frequent in Canada today (see Chart 1) and is thus both a preservation and a Canadianism in terms of frequency, yet its most relevant category is its cultural significance to official Canada and many Canadians.
Poppy Day is most prevalent in Canada according to internet domain searches (see Chart 1).
See also COD-2, s.v. "Poppy Day", which is marked "Brit. & Cdn".
Quotations
1921
Further arrangements for the observance of Poppy Day in Toronto were made yesterday at an Executive meeting of the G.W.V.A. Brig. Gen. V.A.S. Williams, O.C. Military District No. 2, was appointed to head the campaign, with Major Ross Gooderham as Treasurer and Mr. Georgo Moore as Organizer.
1935
Private William H. Smith, Ridley Ave., who will soon undergo the 31st operation on his right leg since 1918, recently topped all other in the poppy day campaign.
1967
He urged his young audience to support Poppy Day while veterans of the past wars are still alive because "we have a responsibility to them. These men acted in good faith and did the best they could with the knowledge that was available at that time."
1985
Trustee Harley Leach and hundreds of Poppy Day volunteers are praying for sunny weather Nov. 8 and 9.
Leach said that good weather and a good level of donations will allow the local fund to buy special equipment for one of the city's hospitals. The project depends on how much money the campaign raises, but Leach would like to see more assistance for elderly veterans and senior citizens, particularly those with arthritis.
1995
HIGHLIGHTS: Cottage, now a museum, that was the birthplace, in 1872, of Col. John McCrae, World War I soldier-physician and author of the poem beginning "In Flanders fields the poppies blow . . .'' The poem became one of the best-known in the English language, partly because of its association with Remembrance Day (sometimes called "Poppy Day.'') The cottage has displays relating to Col. McCrae's career, including original manuscripts and drawings.
2006
He's looking forward to his fourth trip to Dieppe and the unveiling of a new monument in the regiment's honour.
And he has a simple message for Canadians.
"If you see a veteran, go thank him. If it's poppy day, buy two poppies."
2012
Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice day) has been observed in the Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I, to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Remembrance Day is observed on Nov. 11 to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
References
- COD-2
- Veterans Affairs Canada • "Facts on Remembrance Day"
Images
Image 1: Pins commemorating Poppy Day. (Source: Wikimedia Commons. Photo: B. Aubry)
