#66 - The fascinating history of the National symbols of France

Dive into the rich tapestry of France’s national symbols. From the revolutionary Tricolore to the stirring La Marseillaise, the iconic Marianne, and even the Gallic rooster (which has a curious tale!), this episode is a fun and informative journey through the emblems that define French identity. Perfect for Francophiles and history buffs alike! 

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 1:13 National symbols of France
• 23:55 Where to find Janine

Transcript

Janine: Bonjour, mes amis, and welcome to The Good Life France Podcast where we celebrate all things très français. I’m Janine, your go-to gal for everything you want to know about France and more. I’m the editor of The Good Life France Magazine and website, author of several books about France and maid to 4 dogs, 6 cats and umpteen chickens and ducks. As you can tell from my accent, I’m not French, I’m in fact from London, but I’ve had a home in France for more than two decades and I love to observe the French way of life, study French history and culture and share my discoveries with you. 

Oli: And I’m Oli, I’m a radio presenter in Lyon and a self-proclaimed expert in wine tasting and baguette appreciation! So Janine, what’s today’s topic? 

Janine: Today, we’re diving into the national symbols of France—those iconic emblems that make France so very French! From the Tricolore flag to the legendary Marianne, and even the Gallic rooster—yes, we’re talking chickens, folks, and symbols that tell the fascinating story of a nation.

Oli: Expect historical anecdotes and quirky facts, grab your beret and a croissant—it’s time to get started!

Janine: Let’s begin with the Tricolore, France’s famous blue, white, and red flag. It’s more than just a simple colour scheme—it tells the story of revolution and unity.

Oli: That’s right! The blue and red represents Paris, the white stands for the monarchy that France used to have, these colours symbolise the unification of France.

Janine: The tricolore is quite a recent creation. For centuries, France had a variety of different flags, bearing royal emblems like the fleur-de-lis. The Tricolore first emerged in 1789 during the Revolution, but it wasn’t adopted officially until 5 years later in 1794.

Oli: It was followed by a bit of a flag crisis under Napoleon and the monarchy’s restoration—they kept switching between royal banners and the Tricolore! But eventually the blue, white and red flag won.

Janine: Today, the Tricolore is seen everywhere, from government buildings to football matches. And did you know the French are sticklers for the exact shades of blue and red? It’s like haute couture, but for flags! Here’s a fun fact! So the blue colour on the French flag was chosen in the 18th century as we said, a navy blue. And in the 1970s, a lighter shade of blue was introduced – the same as the European Union flag. But – and this what you might not know, President Macron changed the lighter blue back to navy blue in 2020. It was never officially announced and hardly anyone noticed for quite a while though when they did see it, it caused quite a bit of a stir in France! Apparently there’s no big reason for this change except that the president considered it was a more elegant blue! And you mentioned the white of the flag representing monarchy, well symbolically its trapped between the blue and the red which as you say were the colours of the city of Paris, red for St Denis – a 3rd century martyr and bishop of Paris who was decapitated and was said to have picked up his own head and walked for several miles preaching from said head. And blue for Saint Martin who apparently wore a blue cape and shared it with a beggar. 

Oli: Now, you mentioned the fleur-de-lis being on French flags of old so let’s talk about this elegant and enduring symbol of old France.

Janine: Well fleur de lis – the lily, or is it, and we’ll get to that in a minute, is the national flower of France, but long before this it was a religious symbol of the Catholic church and a royal symbol. You’ve probably seen the fleur de lis on everything from coats of arms to architecture in France. It’s like the French version of a crown jewel. Simple, classy, and dripping with history. But let’s look at what it actually means.

Oli: The fleur-de-lis is a stylised representation of a lily flower, and it’s deeply tied to French royalty, religion, and culture. The catholic church used the three petals of the fleur-de-lis to symbolize the holy trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) and the theological virtues - faith, hope and charity.

Janine: The origins of the fleur-de-lis representing French royalty are a bit murky, the truth is that no one knows why French Kings chose the lily. Some say that ancient civilisations chose the lily as their symbol too.

Oli: And somehow, this elegant little flower travelled to Europe and became a favourite in medieval heraldry.

Janine: But here’s something interesting, the name fleur-de-lis literally means “flower of the lily.” But botanically speaking, historians believe the fleur de lis might actually represent an iris, not a lily. If you look at an iris flower it looks much more like a fleur de lis than a lily! And in the old days it’s thought that they may have used the same word for lily and iris.

Oli You know some historians don’t even think it’s a flower – they think it might be a trident, or arrowhead! 

Janine: We’ll probably never know! But we do know that it was chosen as an emblem by Clovis King of the Franks in the 9th century, allegedly after he won a battle after crossing a river where these flowers grew so he felt that they helped him. Subsequent French Kings then adopted it. 

Oli: Joan of Arc carried a white banner that featured the fleur-de-lis, the robes of Kings featured it, you’ll see it on royal seals, coats of arms, coins, carved into the walls of chateaux and painted onto the ceilings of royal chapels because it also symbolised the King’s divine right to rule, It’s like saying, “I’m not just your king; I’m also doing God’s work.”

Janine: And of course, as we said, you’ll see it on French flags of old. It’s like the ultimate royal branding. The most famous example is the flag of the Kingdom of France, which had a blue background with golden fleurs-de-lis. It’s regal, instantly recognisable, and loaded with symbolism.

Oli: Did you know that the fleur-de-lis is the emblem of several French regions and cities, including my region Lyon, and Lille, the capital of the north where you live. It’s also the logo of the New Orleans Saints football team, which is a nod to the city’s French heritage.

Janine: Absolutely. And it’s adaptable, too. Over the years, it’s been used to symbolise everything from national pride to artistic sophistication. The crest of the Boy Scouts is a fleur de lis, the petals represent Service to others, Duty to God and Obedience to the Scout Law! 

Oli Today, the fleur-de-lis remains a symbol of French heritage and identity. You’ll often see it on souvenirs, official emblems, and even luxury goods, fashion and interior décor. 

Janine: So, whether you’re admiring it on a cathedral window, spotting it on a football jersey, or using it as a chic wallpaper pattern, the fleur-de-lis is a little piece of history that’s still blooming today.

Oli: Ok let’s talk about a very big symbol of France – one that you can hear – it’s La Marseillaise, the rousing national anthem. It was written in 1792 by an army engineer called Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle, he wrote it in one single night while stationed in Strasbourg and called it the Battle Hymn of the Army of the Rhine. 

Janine: It’s powerful, stirring, and, let’s be honest, a bit bloodthirsty, in fact a lot bloodthirsty, and calls for citizens to take up arms, march and wage war against their enemy, it’s definitely not your typical sing-along tune. So how did it change from Battle Hymn of the Army of the Rhine, bit of a mouthful, to become the Marseillaise and the national anthem of France?

Oli: During the French Revolution, troops from Marseille sang it as they marched to Paris when the city was under threat of invasion from Prussia and Austria. And then the revolutionaries took the song up as they felt the words represented their fight for liberty, and how far they were prepared to go to assert their rights.

Janine: On the night of the storming of the Bastille on 10 August 1972 it was sung loud, must have been quite something, bangs drumming, people singing at the top of their voices, despair turning to hope. After that it was a fixture at all the revolutionary events. 

Oli: Today, you’ll hear it at national events, Bastille Day celebrations, and every time the French football team scores a goal.

Janine: Yay to that! Ok let’s move on to another symbol – this time it’s Marianne – a very big deal in France. But who, you might ask is Marianne? Well, she isn’t just a symbol—she is the symbol of liberty, reason, and the French Republic itself. She’s like the spirit of France personified.

Oli: That’s true, everybody recognises her, and she’s always stealing the spotlight. But she didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. She has deep revolutionary roots. The French Revolution really has had such an enormous impact that you feel in France to this day. 

Janine: It so does. Marianne first appeared during the French Revolution in 1789, when France was throwing off the shackles of monarchy. She isn’t a real person but a symbolic persona, she was created to represent liberty, reason, and the people’s fight for equality. She’s the embodiment of the Republic’s values—liberté, égalité, fraternité.

Oli: And she wasn’t just a random creation. She’s based on the Goddess of Liberty, who was depicted as wearing Roman clothing and holding a red Phrygian cap on top of a spear. The Phrygian cap used to be worn in ancient Rome by freed slaves to show their liberated status. When the Revolution began in 1789, the French people looked to the goddess of liberty for inspiration in their struggle for liberty. Later, the Revolutionaries adopted her red cap and it became a symbol of their Revolution.

Janine: They also wore a badge made from ribbons in blue, white and red, called a cockade and that is the national ornament of France. And there’s an interesting story about how it came to be. It’s said that a revolutionary journalist called Camille Desmoulins who was very good at whipping up the crowds to revolt, addressed a crowd in Paris two days before the storming of the Bastille and asked protestors to choose a colour of revolution – he suggested green which represented hope or blue – the colour of the American Revolution. “Green” shouted the crowd,“ we want green cockades” but just a day later the colour was dropped because it was the colour of the King’s brother. Oops. So they went for blue, white and red instead! And as you know if you’ve been listening carefully – these then became the colours of the tricolore flag!

Oli: So much history! So, back to Marianne, just why was she called Marianne. Why not something like Marie-Therese, Josianne, Sophie or Claire? Well, actually nobody really knows. Marie and Anne were common names among working-class women in the 18th century, so historians think that the names were blended and made Marianne a symbol that common people could relate to. She wasn’t meant to be a goddess on a pedestal but a symbol of the collective people.

Janine: Over the years, Marianne has taken various forms. Sometimes she’s fierce and militant, charging forward with a sword in one hand and the Tricolore in the other, like in Eugène Delacroix’s famous painting Liberty Leading the People.

Oli: And other times, she’s calm, serene, and almost motherly, like the Marianne busts you’ll find in a place of honour in every town hall and courthouse in France.

Janine: She evolves with the times. She’s not stuck in one image. She can be a revolutionary warrior or a symbol of peace. And here’s a fun fact, every French president gets to choose a famous woman to serve as the model for Marianne. It’s like the ultimate honour in French society. Some of the past Mariannes have included Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, and model Ines de la Fressange. 

Oli: Marianne is everywhere in France. You’ll see her on official government seals, the Great Seal of France, and even postage stamps.

Janine: Absolutely. She’s also a common feature in art and sculpture. And strangely in a way The Statue of Liberty is basically Marianne’s cousin, as she’s also based on the Goddess of Liberty, sharing the same values of freedom and enlightenment.

Oli: Today, Marianne is still as relevant as ever. She represents the enduring values of the French Republic, but she also adapts to modern struggles for liberty and equality. You’ll see her used in protests and demonstrations, often carried as a banner of freedom. She’s not just a historical figure—she’s a living, breathing part of France’s national identity.

Janine: Yes, she’s not just a relic of the past. Marianne continues to inspire and challenge people to uphold the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Oli: Vive la Marianne!

Janine: So now, let’s talk about one of the most iconic phrases in French history: “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” It’s more than just a motto—it’s the heart and soul of the French Republic.

Oli: And it has such a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Liberty, equality, fraternity. 

Janine: The motto was born during the French Revolution, but it didn’t actually start as an official slogan. It first appeared in 1790, written on revolutionary flags and banners.

Oli: One of the first mentions was in a speech by Maximilien Robespierre, who championed the idea that a republic should be based on these three pillars. Of course, Robespierre didn’t exactly live up to the whole “fraternity” bit during what was called the Reign of Terror when many people lost their heads and things got really out of control. 

Janine: That’s true! But the ideals stuck. They were revised, and became popular over time and by 1848, during the Second Republic, the motto officially became part of the French Constitution.

Oli: So, what do these three words actually mean? Let’s break it down: Liberté – Liberty in English - the idea that every person should be free to live their life without oppression. During the Revolution, it meant overthrowing the monarchy and establishing individual freedoms.

Janine Égalité  - Equality in English: This was about abolishing the rigid class system of the ancien regime – royalty. No more aristocrats living off the hard work of peasants—everyone was to be treated equally before the law.

Oli: Fraternité  which is Fraternity in English: This is the idea of solidarity and unity. It’s about building a community where people look out for each other. It’s a powerful motto, and reminds the nation of what it should strive to be, even when it falls short because of course it’s not all perfect of course, sometimes France does not always practice these aspirations.

Janine: I’m glad you said that and not me but yes, it’s true. That aside, one of the coolest things about the motto is how visible it is in everyday life. You’ll find “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” inscribed on public buildings across France.

Oli: It’s also printed on French coins and official government documents. It’s a constant reminder of the Republic’s values.

Janine: And here’s another fun fact: If you visit a French school, you’ll often see the motto displayed prominently, alongside a picture of Marianne and the Tricolore. It’s like a crash course in French identity for every student. Now, if only I could figure out how to embody “Fraternité” when Oli eats the last croissant. Now, lets talk about one of France’s quirkiest yet most enduring national symbols—the Gallic rooster, or le coq gaulois. Not really what you might expect as a national emblem, is it?

Oli: Not at all! I mean, we’re talking about a chicken. But this rooster holds its head high—it’s more than just barnyard fluff. It’s a proud, strutting representation of France.

Janine: So how did a rooster, of all things, become a symbol of an entire nation? It all comes down to a pun.

Oli: A pun? Classic France.

Janine: Yep! In Latin, the word for a rooster, Gallus, also means “Gaul,” which was the Roman name for the region that became France. The Romans thought it was funny that the Gauls were roosters, arrogant and crowing against the might of the Imperial Roman Eagle. But the Gauls lived up to the reputation of roosters that fight to protect their flock – so the symbol stuck on and off but it was really during the French Revolution that it started to be seen as a symbol of the common people, standing tall and proud, just like the ideals of liberty and equality.

Oli: You’ve got to admit, it’s a perfect metaphor. The rooster is scrappy, it’s loud, and it doesn’t back down. It also has this underdog energy, don’t you think? Like, it’s not a lion or an eagle—it’s a rooster. But it struts around like it owns the place.

Janine: I don’t think I want to comment on that bit! And the rooster’s role as a vigilant protector also fit with revolutionary values. It became a way for the new Republic to distance itself from traditional royal symbols, like the fleur-de-lis.

Oli: Out with the lilies, in with the cockerel.

Janine: Today, the Gallic rooster is a national icon, especially in sports. If you’ve ever watched the French national football team, you’ve probably seen the rooster on their jerseys. You’re not allowed to take animals to spots matches but a fan nicknamed Clément d’Antibes became a cult hero at the 1998 World Cup, which France won, after being pictured in the stands with a cockerel named Balthazar. There’s even an app which fans use at matches which plays the sound of a cockerel crowing and their slogan is Faites chanter votre coq pour Les Bleus (make your rooster sing for Les Bleus). I’m not kidding. 

Oli: So next time you see a rooster, think of France—not just the croissants. And maybe give it a little cockadoodledoo for its centuries of service to French identity. Ok we have time for one more French icon. Llet’s dive into something official and grand—Le Grand Sceau de France, or the Great Seal of France. It might not be as well-known as the Tricolore or Marianne, but it holds a special place in the French Republic’s history and tradition.

Janine I have to admit, when I first heard “Great Seal,” I thought we were talking about a giant aquatic mammal. But no, this is a different kind of seal—one that leaves a lasting impression, literally.

Oli: Erm I’m not sure what to say to that! So, the Great Seal is essentially the official stamp of the French Republic, used to authenticate the nation’s most important documents. Think of it as France’s signature on its birth certificate.

Janine: The history of the Great Seal dates back to 1848, during the Second Republic. This was a time of political upheaval, and France needed a strong, symbolic image to represent its values and the legitimacy of its government.

Oli: And they went big with this seal. It’s not just any old stamp—it’s a masterpiece of symbolism.

Janine: That’s right. The seal is made of metal, and it’s about the size of a small plate. It’s designed to emboss wax, leaving a detailed impression on important state documents. At the centre of the seal is Marianne, seated and majestic. She’s wearing her signature. Phrygian cap, symbolising liberty, and she’s surrounded by allegorical imagery. In one hand, she holds a bundle of rods with an axe. This is a symbol of unity and authority, dating back to ancient Rome. The other hand leans on a ship’s tiller. 

Oli: That’s a lot of symbolism packed into one image. It’s like a visual mission statement for the Republic.

Janine: Exactly. At her feet is a rooster – of course - and various things representing the arts and agriculture. And around the edge of the seal are the words “République Française, Démocratique, Une et Indivisible”—“French Republic, Democratic, One and Indivisible.” It’s a declaration of the Republic’s core principles.

Oli: The Great Seal isn’t something you see every day—it’s reserved for the most important occasions in France’s history for instance to authenticate the Constitution and other key legal documents. The Great Seal isn’t unique to France. Many countries have their own seals, like the Great Seal of the United States. But France’s version is distinct in how closely it ties to revolutionary ideals. It’s almost like a time capsule. Every time it’s used, it connects the present moment to the ideals of 1789.

Janine: And there you have it—a whirlwind tour of France’s national symbols.

Oli: From Marianne to the rooster, every symbol tells a unique story about France’s history, values, and enduring spirit.

Janine: Well mes amis – it’s a bit of a sad ending to the podcast today because it’s time to say goodbye to Oli and I know that you will miss him as much as I will. We’ve been doing this podcast together for 2 and a half years but from now on you’ll be getting much more of me on the podcast as Oli has a new job on national radio, a really wonderful opportunity for him, but which leaves him no time for doing fun things like this podcast. I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him well in his new adventures to come.

Oli: I’m very sad to be leaving the podcast but I’ll still be listening in as I know that you’ll be really great even without me and I’ll be learning more about my own country as I have been ever since day 1 of this podcast! Thank you to everyone for all your lovely messages over the years – keep them coming in to Janine who will be bringing you lots of really wonderful podcast episodes and maybe I’ll make an appearance as a guest once in a while! But for now, it’s goodbye from me.

Janine: And au revoir from me – until next time, stay tuned for all things French and wonderful on The Good Life France Podcast. I’ll be talking about all sorts of things from café culture in France – how cafés came to be such a part of the daily life and how they’re a cultural experience, to an episode totally focused on gastronomy, and especially, recipes of the royals, plus an episode about the French lifestyle, fabulous markets, wonderful little villages and a whole lot more – loads of fascinating facts, lots of fun stories and a big dose of French culture – coming up! 

And, don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share us with your friends! 

Oli: We just want to say a huge thank you to all of you listening to our podcast and to everyone for sharing it too. We really love sharing the France we know and love with you, the authentic and real France with its wonderful history, culture, gastronomy, wine and more. It always amazes us that people are listening in about 150 countries around the world!

Janine: Yes thank you so much everyone, wherever you are, we really appreciate it. You’ve been listening to me Janine Marsh and Olivier Jauffrit. You can find Oli at parischanson.fr playing heaps of great music, and you can find me and a ton of information about France – where to visit, culture, history, recipes – everything France - at thegoodlifefrance.com where you can subscribe to the podcast, a weekly newsletter about France and my totally brilliant, completely free magazine which you can read at magazine.thegoodlifefrance.com.

But for now, it’s au revoir from me.

Oli: And goodbye from me.

Janine: Speak to you soon!