National symbols of France


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

National symbols

The national emblems of the French Fifth Republic are:
Other symbols include:
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 cockade

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

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

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

The Great Seal of France 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". 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, 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. 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

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 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.