Since the end of World War I, Memorial Day has also been Poppy Day. Volunteers sell small, red artificial poppies in order to help disabled veterans. In recent years, the custom has grown in most families to decorate the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day. It has been raised in the Orient since ancient times. The flowers of poppies are admired for their delicate beauty and gracefulness.
Most kinds are hardy and easy to cultivate.
The tiny seeds are sold for bird food. They also yield an oil used in preparing some foods. Poppy seeds are also used as flavoring. Poppy seeds may be sprinkled on bread and rolls, or used in filling for cakes. The common corn poppy grows wild in the grainfields and grassy meadows of Europe.