‘Red poppies on Monte Cassino. Instead of dew drank Polish blood’. ‘Red Poppies’ or ‘Corn Poppies’, as the popular name goes, are of immense importance in the lives of the Polish people. It has references, since antiquity, in various legends, folk songs and musical as well as poetic compositions of the country. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the Polish Government would select the Corn Poppy as the floral emblem of the nation.

This beautiful flower is red in colour, which is one of the colours of the Polish National Flag, has a strong footing in the history and culture of the country. It is related to the famous battle of the World War II which was fought at Monte Cassino where the Polish troop emerged victorious though the war took a toll of about one thousand Polish soldiers. The battlefield was covered with the corn poppies at the time of the war and is believed to have witnessed the entire incident of Polish victory as well as the tragic death of the soldiers in the honour of whom, later, a memorial was built at Monte Cassino and the famous song was composed called ‘Red poppies on Monte Cassino’.