Today is November 11th so it is a good time to mention the cornflower, or Bleuet (Centaurea cyanus). The bleuet is the French emblem of Remembrance. It is worn on the left lapel (so is closest to the heart) as a symbol of remembrance on May 8th and November 11th in France.
Today at 11am around memorials though out France, inhabitants will gather for a ceremony which includes a message from the French government being read out by the maire. The names of local people who have died fighting for France will be read out and honoured, a wreath will be laid and, of course, the Marseilleise will be sung.
The bleuet is a member of the Asteraceae family - which has over 20,000 members. Asteraceae include sunflowers, daisies, Jerusalem artichokes, dandylions and even lettuce. Better known members include marigolds, daisies and, of course chrysanthemums which are also associated with sorrow an loss. Almost two weeks ago graveyards across France were heavily decorated with chrysanthemums as families remembered their dead on le jour de Toussaint, November 1st.
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