National symbols of France

National symbols of France are emblems of the French nation, and are the cornerstone of the republican tradition.

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National symbols
"R.F."

The national emblems of the French Fifth Republic are:

Other symbols include:

  • The National Order of the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit
  • Bastille Day, the French national Holiday celebrated on 14 July
  • The capital letters “RF”, standing for “République Française” (French Republic)
  • The Gallic rooster
  • The Phrygian cap

French flag
Main article: Flag of France

The Flag of France is a tricolour, and consists in three vertical stripes of equal width, coloured in royal blue, white, and red. It is the only official French emblem, according to article 2 of the current Constitution of France, adopted in 1958.

French Flag


French cockade
Main article: Cockade of France

The cockade of France is the national ornament of France, obtained by circularly pleating a blue, white and red ribbon. It is composed of the three colors of the French flag with blue in the center, white immediately outside and red on the edge.

National anthem
Main article: La Marseillaise

The national anthem "La Marseillaise" was composed by Rouget de Lisle in 1792.

Marianne
Main article: Marianne

Marianne embodies the Republic. A personification of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty, her bust is present in every city hall in France. Her face is also drawn on stamps. The name Marianne enabled the French people to take over the newborn Republic, by creating a popular figure with whom French people could easily identify.

Great Seal of France
Great Seal of France, in 1848. The headdress of Liberty is similar to the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World), which are both prominent republican symbols.
Main article: Great Seal of France

The Great Seal of France (French: Grand sceau de la République française) is the official seal of the French Republic. The Great Seal features Liberty personified as a seated Juno wearing a crown with seven arches. She holds a fasces and is supported by a ship's tiller with a cock printed on it. At her feet is a vase with the letters "SU" ("Suffrage Universel", "Universal suffrage"). At her right, in the background, are symbols of the arts (painter's tools), architecture (Ionic order), education (burning lamp), agriculture (a sheaf of wheat) and industry (a cog wheel). The scene is surrounded by the legend "RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, DÉMOCRATIQUE, UNE ET INDIVISIBLE" ("French Republic, democratic, one and indivisible") and "24 FEV.1848" (24 February 1848) at the bottom.

The reverse bears the words "AU NOM DU PEUPLE FRANÇAIS" ("In the name of the French people") surrounded by a crown of oak (symbol of perennity) and laurel (symbol of glory) leaves tied together with weed and grapes (agriculture and wealth), with the circular national motto "LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ".

Coat of arms

The current coat of arms of France has been a symbol of France since 1953.[1] A different emblem appears on the cover of French passports; it had been adopted originally by the French Foreign Ministry as a symbol for use by diplomatic and consular missions in 1912, using a design by the sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain.

Gallic rooster
Main article: Gallic rooster

The choice of the Gallic rooster as a symbol for France dates back to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the formation of Gaul. It finds its origin in a play on word on gallus (Latin for rooster) and Gallus (Gallic). Despite its frequent use as a symbol for France, in particular by sports federations, the rooster has never been an official emblem. “Cocorico !” (French for “cock-a-doodle-doo”) is often used as an affirmation of French patriotism.

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See also

References
  1. "Les symboles de la République française". Site de la présidence de la République.
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