I am getting a strange feeling that poeple are looking at me in confused manner, my partner brought me Poppy to wear at the weekend in commeration of Remembrance Day, but I getting many strange looks from passers by and at work? one person told me that they don`t commerate it here. Why and so what if I do?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

Just wear it. Funny looks aren't going to kill you, are they?

No its just nice to smile back and but explaining why eachtime is the confusing bit, I would have though that those people are aware why?

Well, I guess the Swiss don't wear the poppy because they did not fight...

Can't imagine why you should get (dirty) looks because of that, but then I haven't really master the art of spotting starers yet either...

In my area, wearing a "gummel" would be more appropriate in remembrance of those times.

Where did you get the poppy?

No reason why they should, any more than an Australian or a Brit should be aware of the reason why Swiss people listen to loud Guggi music at 11.00 on November 11th each year.

Different culture, different ways. Do your thing, let them do theirs, and we'll all be happy.

(The poppy's great for spotting fellow Anglos on the train, by the way... )

Orell Fuessli or any Anglican church (St Andrew's in Zurich, for example) should have them.

Unless they're French Canadian. But they'd be wearing the nicer (3-d) Canadian poppy so you'd probably notice.

My partner picked it up from the UN in Geneva

Associate Anglos... We can forgive their Frenchness for all the service they have given to Her Maj.

Good lads, even if they did invent poutine.

Got mine and wear it with pride for all those poor sods who had to go what they went through , and still are out east.
Certainly a good conversation starter when you see someone else sporting one.
No funny looks and if I did get any they would be quickly on the end of my finger.

I bought a few spare ones for my firends, one of whom was a Canadian (non French Canadian).
Another friend who is Amercian says they wear a black poppy but only of the 11th of November for Veteran's Day (not days leading up to it).
But I haven't seen any.....yet.
Are they also available somewhere in Switzerland?

Consider this a funny look , now show me the end of your finger. I'm sorry but I don't do poppies. I haven't worked out who really are the bad guys yet.

i've yet to see another Poppy myself!

I also have one in the front of my Jeep

I've worn the Poppy with pride for years but it took on an extra special meaning when my Granny died at age 100 on 11/11/08. She lived through two world wars before becoming a 10 pound pom in 1948.

I'll smile at anyone wearing a Poppy 'cause it makes me remember her

I can tell you who the bad guys aren't:

The poor buggers, mostly dead, mostly perfectly ordinary, in whose memory we wear the poppies.

Ooops, here seems to be some heavy moderating going on... anyway: transition, history books could be your friends and teach you some facts, but I found your post not worth to respond to.

Anyway to the OP: The first time I have seen somebody wearing a poppy was here in Switzerland by an English expat. I had no idea what it was and what it meant... and this will be the case for most locals I assume. Your question why people do not wear them here reminds me of a chat I had with an US tourist who was confused that he was the only one celebrating july 4th in Interlaken. Isn't it obvious? Why should they?

I personally find it a very nice tradition and if somebody looks curiously at it, just explain it.

And I'm not stopping you.
I prefer to forget wars.

Heard about the Remembrance day by a british friend. Didn't know about it before...
Now I don't wear a poppy, but I think about that and make a prayer.