Symbols of the French Republic

Symbols of the French Republic are emblems of the French nation, and are the cornerstone of the republican tradition.

The national emblems of the French Fifth Republic are:

• The French tricolor
• The National Anthem : La Marseillaise
• The official motto: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)

Other symbols are:

• Marianne, the allegoric figure of the French republic
• The Great Seal of France
• The National Order of the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit
• Bastille Day, the French national Holiday celebrated on July 14
• The capital letters “RF”, standing for “République Française” (French Republic)
• The Phrygian cap
• The Gallic rooster

The French Tricolor

The Flag of France is tricolor, and consists in three vertical stripes of equal width, colored 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

The National Anthem: La Marseillaise

The national anthem "La Marseillaise" has been composed by Rouget de Lisle. The anthem is the subject of controversy for the violence of its lyrics.

Marianne

Marianne embodies the Republic. 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 newly-born Republic, by creating a popular figure with whom French people could easily identify. However, “Marianne” never had an official existence, precisely because the figure was too popular and familiar.

The 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 personnified 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 perenity) and laurel (symbol of glory) leaves tied together with weed and grapes (agriculture and wealth), with the circular national motto "LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ".

The 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, usually in an ironic manner.