Short answer: the poppy is traditionally worn on the left side of the chest, over the heart, though there is no official “right” side and it ultimately comes down to personal choice. Context and common guidance:
- In the UK and Canada, the red remembrance poppy is commonly worn on the left lapel or left chest so it sits near the heart. This aligns with how medals and other insignia are worn in many traditions, which helps keep the symbol visually close to the heart [general remembrance guidance seen in media and official sources].
- Some people have debated whether men should wear it on the left and women on the right, or other variations. Major veterans organizations (like the Royal British Legion) emphasize that there is no single correct way to wear a poppy and encourage wearing it with pride as a personal choice [official guidance and commentary from veterans organizations].
- Additional notes:
- If you wear a multi-poppy arrangement (e.g., the “Five Poppy Tribute” on royal occasions), each poppy traditionally represents a different branch or area of service, but the same left-side placement convention generally applies.
- There are colored poppies with different meanings in some contexts (e.g., white or black poppies), but these color variations are less standardized and still typically worn on the chest; meanings can vary by country or organization.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to your country or region (e.g., UK, Canada, or another) and provide the most current official wording from the local veterans’ charity or government source.
