5 things you should know about poppy etiquette for Remembrance Day

With Remembrance Day taking placethis week, poppies have been gracing lapels, sweaters and jackets everywhere. The red flowers are worn to commemorate fallen soldiers of past wars dating back to the First World War, leading up until today.

With help from Rosemary Ferguson, president of the Nutana Branch 362 of the Royal Canadian Legion, CBC News has compiled a list of five things you should know when wearing a poppy.

Where should you wear your poppy?

Ferguson said poppies should be worn on the left hand side of the body over top of the heart.

"It's not disrespectful if it's somewhere else on your clothing that is just fine," she said

What is an acceptable colour or style of poppy?

The colour and style of apoppy should notmakea difference, according to Ferguson.She said it's the meaning behind it for the person sporting the poppythat really matters. It doesn't matter if you have a knitted one, a beaded one or even a white one.

Is there a specific way a poppy should be pinned to help it stay put?

Ferguson said this differs from person to person, butshe prefers the hidden pin approach to prevent any sharppricks.

Is it OK to put a decorative pin through the middle of the poppy to keep it secure?

"It is OK," said Ferguson. "I mean, it's the fact that we like to see the poppy on the outfit and if that's what's needed, then we'll accept that."

How long should you wear your poppy?

"Take it off after Nov. 11 because that's when you leave it at the graveside," said Ferguson. "That's technically what it originally was all about. You take your poppy and you placed it on the graveside."

Where you put the poppy after Nov. 11 is entirely up to you.

She said the most common place for the red flowers is by memorials of loved ones.