Remembrance Day 2021: When is it and will it be affected by Covid?
The world is celebrating 100 years since the end of WWI
Last updated 8th Nov 2021
As Remembrance Day approaches, the bright red poppies have started re-appearing on people's coats, jumpers and shirts to honour the lives lost in service of the country.
Remembrance Day, sometimes called Armistice Day, is always on 11th November but is also celebrated on the second Sunday of the month, Remembrance Sunday (14th November this year).
Typically, it is marked with a minute's silence at 11am on both days. The National Service of Remembrance on the Sunday also sees veterans walk a procession through London to the Cenotaph War Memorial.
Why do people wear poppies on Remembrance Day?
The symbol of the poppy dates all the way back to the First World War as they grew at the battlefields of the Western Front in Europe.
The conditions at these locations was ideal for their growth, specifically the soil.
After the death of his friend in Ypres, Belgium in 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was inspired by the sight of poppies growing in fields.
Amazed by the war memorial he proceeded to write the now-famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'.
Britain began to use the poppy symbol shortly after the war in 1921 when the Royal British Legion was formed.
Though people nowadays tend to go for paper or enamel poppy pins, back in the day they were made out of silk.
When can you buy Remembrance Day poppies?
Poppies are already up for sale at the Royal British Legion's (RBL) website as the charity is the official seller of poppies for Remembrance Day in the UK.
As the day approaches, you can also find them in multiple locations around your town, city or village, your nearest RBL charity shops and also inside most tube stations in London.
As seen on the RBL's website, a paper poppy costs £2, a 2021 enamel poppy costs £3 and a clip-on poppy costs £3.99.
The RBL has also launched a poppy-decorated reusable face covering, in tune with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Will there be Covid restrictions on ceremonies this year?
Last year, a number of restrictions were placed on local Remembrance Day celebrations around the country by the government.
At the time, as there were ongoing national lockdowns the measures saw that all events should take place outdoors.
The events were also reduced in length and size to avoid potential transmission, and that all attendees or people involved in each event should practice social distancing at all times.
However, this year, there are no restrictions in place, meaning Remembrance Day events will return to their usual manner.
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