Armistice Day commemorates the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, when the Allied forces and Germany signed an armistice agreement. The armistice took effect at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, formally ending hostilities on the Western Front after four years of devastating warfare. Armistice Day is now observed in many countries as a day to remember and honor all who served and sacrificed in military conflicts. In the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, it has become known as Remembrance Day, focusing on honoring those who have served in all wars. In the United States, it is known as Veterans Day, dedicated to honoring military veterans.
The poppy is closely associated with Remembrance Day due to its symbolism and its origins in World War I. The connection began with the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. He wrote the poem after witnessing red poppies growing in the war-torn fields of Flanders, Belgium, where many soldiers had lost their lives. The poppies, growing amidst the devastation, became a symbol of hope, resilience, and remembrance for those who had fallen in battle.
Inspired by the poem, an American academic named Moina Michael promoted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance after the war. The idea spread internationally, and soon the poppy became a widely recognized symbol of remembrance in the British Commonwealth and other countries. Today, wearing a red poppy on Remembrance Day honors the memory of those who served and sacrificed in wars and conflicts worldwide.