Why wear fake poppies?

[flobadob]

When it's Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland a lot of people will wear a bunch shamrocks on their breast. However when it is Poppy Day in Britain everyone seems to wear fake poppies. Why does no one wear real poppies? Or do they and I have not noticed?

[cazzz1975]

dont people wear the poppies that are sold by the ex service men?

[jomifl]

Try it see how long they last.

[Calibax]

Poppies are not in flower in November.

[ummmm]

Poppies are worn for weeks before poppy day. The Irish tend to only wear shamrock on St Patricks day.

[jamesnan]

The whole purpose is to buy the poppies which are made by ex-servicemen to raise money at the same time. Real poppies would wilt and wither within a very short time anyway.

[Prudie]

Perhaps the fact that poppies don't flower in November.

[pastafreak]

Poppies are a spring/summer flowering plant....and once picked will wilt very quickly.

[DTCwordfan]

I can just see the authorities allowing opium poppies to grow in greenhouses in the UK......there's one licensed farm in Hampshire, purely medicinal.

[barry1010]

Poppies don't flower in November.
A picked poppy dies very quickly.
The poppies we buy help support the Royal British Legion who work tirelessly with servicemen, ex servicemen, injured servicemen and their families. And servicewomen, obviously.
http://www.britishleg...n-we-help/who-we-help

Remembrance Sunday isn't a saint's day or a national day like St Patrick's Day or St George's Day. It is a day to remember and honour our servicemen, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Ghurka, Commonwealth and allies.

[grasscarp]

Jamesnan gave the answer. It is a way of supporting a charity to purchase the material one.

[DTCwordfan]

Absolutely, it is the contribution to charity that matters - in addition to honouring their service. The US equivalent is Veterans Day also the 11th - but their Memorial Day is bigger (last Monday in May) that honours the Nations war dead, rather than just the armed forces.

[flobadob]

Cool. That is quite concise then. Would there not be a way of preserving real poppies in some way or would people not like that?

[grasscarp]

Flobadob, what would be the point of preserving a poppy to wear it when it would make you look like a cheapskate who wanted to avoid buying one!

[sara3]

also, the leaf on the poppy should be pointing at the 11 o'clock position.

[DTCwordfan]

You learn something every day - never heard that before, sara.

[flobadob]

grasscarp, I meant the servicemen could preserve and sell them. They look so tacky sometimes. Perhaps a real one would look better. Some people detest fake flowers.

[cazzz1975]

I think its more about the meaning behind the flower, rather than the flower itself. its not supposed to be a fashion accessory ;)

[grasscarp]

Oh I see flobadob. Well a poppy leaf is a very delicate thing at the best of times and the cost of really preserving one would be prohibitive. Also I am reliably informed that poppies can be harvested for other more lucrative substances.

[welshlibranr]

sad but true that poppies have not flowered for weeks now!.........you cannot find or wear a real one in November, they have gone to seed weeks ago!.............

[naomi24]

I can hardly believe what I'm reading here. Real poppies? Dried poppies? Millions of fake poppies are sold each year and as has already been said they are sold to aid the charity - which, incidentally, is a very worthwhile one. Just accept it and buy one.