Get the app →
BriefTea logoBriefTea

Every story in sixty words

Get the free app no ads · no paywall

Explained in plain English

Why do we wear poppies?

The poppy became a symbol of remembrance after the First World War. Its red colour symbolises the blood shed, and it grew in the battlefields of Flanders. Initially, it was a symbol of hope for a new spring, but it quickly became associated with the fallen, leading to its adoption for Armistice Day observations.

Stories that explain this

Two-minute silence at 11am observes 108 years since First World War ended

Related explainers

What is the Cenotaph made of? What happens during it? Why is Remembrance Sunday different? Who started the silence? Why do celebrities wear expensive jewellery? Why did the pilots wear masks? Why do royals wear watches? Why wear armbands?

The full catalogue

Browse every card filed under W →