Why did the poppy become the enduring symbol of the First World War?
In short: Millions of people wear red poppies every November to honor those who served. This video explores the origins of this tradition, tracing how a flower from the Western Front became a global icon of remembrance and why it remains a subject of debate today.
During the First World War, soldiers on the Western Front frequently encountered poppies growing in the fields of Flanders. The connection was so personal that some troops even pressed the flowers and mailed them home in letters. More than a century later, the poppy persists as a widely recognized emblem of the conflict.
Curator Laura Clouting examines the history behind this symbol, addressing why it captured the public imagination so deeply and exploring the reasons why some individuals view the poppy as controversial.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Poppy | The history of Remembrance Day poppies
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