National symbols of France
National symbols of France are emblems of the French Republic and French people, and they are the cornerstone of the nation's republican tradition.
The national symbols of the French Fifth Republic are:
- The French flag
- The national anthem: "La Marseillaise"
- The national personification: Marianne
- The national motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité
- The national day: Bastille Day
- The Gallic rooster
- The lictor's fasces emblem
- The Great Seal of France
- The cockade of France
- The letters "RF", standing for République Française
- The National Order of the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit
- The Phrygian cap
- Joan of Arc
- Fleur-de-lis
- Bleuet de France, the symbol of memory for, and solidarity with, veteran, victims of war, widows, and orphans, similar to the Commonwealth remembrance poppy.
Marianne
Gallic rooster
The choice of the Gallic rooster as a symbol for France dates to the Middle Ages. It finds its origin in a play on the word gallus and Gallus. Despite its frequent use as a symbol for France, in particular by sports federations, the rooster has never been an official emblem. Cocorico! is often used as an affirmation of French patriotism.Great Seal
The Great Seal of France is the official seal of the French Republic. The 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 rooster printed on it. At her feet is a vase with the letters "SU". At her right, in the background, are symbols of the arts, architecture, education, agriculture and industry. The scene is surrounded by the legend RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, DÉMOCRATIQUE, UNE ET INDIVISIBLE and 24 FEV.1848 at the bottom.The reverse bears the words AU NOM DU PEUPLE FRANÇAIS surrounded by a crown of oak and laurel leaves tied together with weed and grapes, and the circular national motto LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ.