Poppy Petals

[2sp_]

Not sure where to put this...

I know that in England Poppies have two petals, in Scotland we have four and I noticed Queenie had five on hers on Sunday.

Now, someone told me that the Queen's five petals represent the five continents the countries of the Commonwealth are in.

Does anyone know why England has two and we have four?

[Prudie]

I'd assumed it was only two because they're cheaper to make. When I was a child and the poppies were felty stuff with the Haig button they always had 4 petals.

[Dizmo]

I don't think it matters. I wear mine to show respect for the fallen troops. I recently made a 4 petal poppy.

[2sp_]

I just wondered if the number of petals in each country was significant.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't think there is an actual reason.


Why is there a different poppy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Since Earl Haig first launched the Poppy Appeal in Scotland in 1921, we have always had our own unique design. The Scottish poppy features four petals, whereas the poppy produced by the Royal British Legion for the Appeal in England, Wales and Northern Island has two petals and a green leaf. You can find out more about the Scottish poppy in our short video with Tam & Arthur from Lady Haig's Poppy Factory.

[Dizmo]

They shouldn't be different. We have enough divides without having to deal with this one.

[Mamyalynne]

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dEqNSbGFs&feature=share&list=UUFXZhjG7aB1388jaHxI56Wg

[Dizmo]

Mamyalynne: We have a problem then :/ I made a poppy (about 10" D) with 4 petals and a leaf :s

[tonyav]

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the poppies have two red paper petals, a green paper leaf and are mounted on a green plastic stem. In Scotland, the poppies are curled and have four petals with no leaf. The yearly selling of poppies is a major source of income for the RBL in the UK. The poppy has no fixed price; it is sold for a donation or the price may be suggested by the seller. The black plastic center of the poppy was marked "Haig Fund" until 1994 but is now marked "Poppy Appeal".[16] A team of about 50 people—most of them disabled former British military personnel—work all year round to make millions of poppies at the Poppy Factory in Richmond.[17] Scottish poppies are made in the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.

From Wikipedia.

[Peter Pedant]

anyway they a re Flanders poppies arent they

has anyone gone out and counted the number of petals.

actually thinking about it - you cant have a four petalled poppy - it not a Fibonacci number.
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fibslide/jbfibslide.htm

[Mamyalynne]

We don't have a problem Dizmo - you can make your Poppies however you wish - I don't see it as a divide they are just slightly different and always have been.


It would be silly for them to run to the expense of new formers etc to make them the same as others.

[2sp_]

I don't see it as being divisive at all. It's only a slight difference after all, the meaning and the sentiment behind the poppies are the same.

[Dizmo]

I came on too strong there. My sense of humour is lacking tonight also. I've got so much respect for the service women and men who fought for a better like for us all. My Grandfather was a service man and he bored me constantly with the stories of the war; I was only young but I miss him dearly.

[Dizmo]

*life

[gness]

I have no idea, 2sp........but that's a cracking quilt behind the two chaps on Mamya's link.....x

[janbee]

I have both the Scottish and English poppies and I wear both together.