The red poppy is the officially accepted national flower of Belgium. The red poppy is also popularly known as the ‘Corn Poppy’, ‘Field Poppy’ as well as ‘Flanders Poppy’. The red poppy is steeped in historical and cultural significance.

Since time immemorial, the red poppy has been associated with the history of agriculture and is regarded as the most successfully cultivated crop. The plant symbolizes agricultural fertility. The Turkish people regard the red poppy as a young and beautiful bride and in Turkish society the brides are dressed in red and not in the traditional white.

The red poppies were mentioned in the epic Iliad where Homer compared the drooping head of a dying soldier with the flower head of a poppy flower. "...She then adopted the custom of wearing a red poppy in memory of the sacrifices of war and also as a symbol of keeping the faith.”

The red poppy has a strong association with the martyrs of the First World War, since red poppy was grown extensively throughout the western front during the 20th century. Therefore, in all the Commonwealth countries, Remembrance Day is celebrated with the red poppies as a symbol of the military war veterans of the First World War.

Due to these strong historical and cultural bearings, the country of Belgium has accepted the red poppy as its national flower.