OTTAWA -- When should you start wearing a poppy?

It's a question many of us ask every fall, as the little red emblems start popping up on the lapels of business people and children alike as a tribute to fallen soldiers.

Many people think that date is the day after Halloween - on Nov. 1. Others say poppies should be worn in the week running up to Remembrance Day.

The British Broadcasting Corp. actually chooses a day for its presenters to start wearing poppies each year. This year, it was from 6 a.m. on Oct. 24.

Veterans Affairs Canada says poppies can be worn from the beginning of the poppy drive, which this year was Oct. 30.

The annual campaign begins "on the last Friday of October and (poppies) can be worn at any time after that date," Veterans Affairs says on its website.

But it adds: "Although it is tradition for the poppy to be worn only during the annual Remembrance period, a person may wear a Poppy any time he or she wishes to do so."

More than 1,500 branches of the Royal Canadian Legion started the poppy campaign Friday.

The veterans' organization suggests the poppy be worn on the left lapel of a garment or as close to the heart as possible.

The poppy is the national symbol of remembrance for the 117,000 men and women who gave their lives during military service around the world.

Wilf Edmond, national president of the legion, said the organization wants all Canadians to wear one in remembrance of those who have died to keep Canada and other countries free from tyranny.

Each year, about 18 million poppies are distributed in communities across Canada.

The money goes to trust funds, and is meant to be used to improve the lives of people in the communities where it was raised.