Poppies

The flower symbolism associated with poppies is beauty, magic, consolation, fertility and eternal life. The Egyptians included poppies at funerals and in burial tombs. The Greeks used poppies in the shrines of Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt. Poppies denote sleep, rest and repose, and in modern times, poppies have been associated with Flanders fields as an emblem of those who died in World War I.

In many Commonwealth countries, artificial, paper or plastic versions of the poppy are worn to commemorate the sacrifice of veterans and civilians in World War I and other wars during the weeks preceding Remembrance Day on November 11. In the United States, it's common practice to wear "Buddy Poppies" (artificial, paper or plastic versions sold by the Veterans of Foreign War) during the weeks preceding Memorial Day, the last Monday in May to commemorate the sacrifice of veterans in the various wars, whereas Veterans Day on November 11 is used to honor "living" veterans. It has been adopted as a symbol by The Royal British Legion in their Poppy Appeal.

In Canada, poppies are distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion each fall prior to Remembrance Day. The design of the Canadian poppy consists of petals made of red plastic with a felt lining and black centre held on by a pin. In 1980, the Royal Canadian Legion formed a committee to decide the future of the poppy and it was decided that the centre should be changed to green to represent the green fields of France. This proved unpopular with the Legion membership and the design was changed back in 1986.

In New Zealand and Australia, plastic poppies are widely distributed by the Returned Services Association leading up to ANZAC day (April 25th).

The golden poppy, Eschscholzia californica, is the state flower of California.