National symbolism is a rather fascinating science, as it harbors many interesting and unpredictable facts.
A national symbol is not necessarily a flag or a coat of arms, it is something that immediately comes to mind when a country is mentioned. A kind of association.
But the first symbols of states are usually representatives of the fauna, and this has its own explanation. At one time, some human settlements had their totem animals. Residents believed that these animals protect and protect them from dangers and enemies. Over time, settlements turned into states, grew geographically and economically, and animals from powerful totems became state symbols.
However, some animal symbols do not have such deep roots, but become them for completely different reasons.
For example, France. Everyone knows that one of the symbols of this country is the rooster. We Russians, it causes a smile and irony. Indeed, try to call someone a "rooster", you will not get into trouble! In France, the situation is different. According to the official version, the rooster became a symbol of France because the French consider themselves descendants of the Gauls, and from Latin “Gauls” and “roosters” sound the same - galli.
But many people are inclined to think that this happened also because the national character of the French is very similar to the behavior of the rooster - the French do not feed them with bread, let them "take care of". Everybody knows what kind of bad guys are the French. Yes, it seems that not a single country in history has as many revolutions as our “males” have riveted them! The French themselves to the question "why the rooster? "Not without irony respond like this:
- And what other animal, standing in shit, can proudly ruffle feathers and sing war songs?
At the mention of Australia immediately appears kangaroo. And although there are many other wonderful little animals on this continent that cannot be found anywhere else, but for some reason it was the kangaroo that became the symbol of the state, and its image today adorns the passports of Australian residents. According to legend, it was this animal that was first seen by Captain Cook’s expedition, who discovered the continent. The members of the expedition asked the Aborigines: “What kind of animal is this? "They just threw up their hands when they heard an unfamiliar speech, and replied:" Kangaroo "- in their language meant" I do not understand. " So they began to call this animal.
But in Australia itself there is no such respect for kangaroos, as the ancient tribes once had for their totems. Kangaroo there is no matter what a cow is for us. He is bred in large quantities, eating his meat and successfully selling it abroad. As you can see, being a national symbol is also life threatening.
The main and most famous symbol of Canada is the maple leaf. However, there is another symbol of this state - the beaver. His story is no less sad than that of a kangaroo. In the 17th-18th centuries, beaver fur hats became fashionable in Europe. And in Canada a huge number of beavers lived. They began hunting, and, thanks to this pursuit of beavers, a large part of the territory of Canada was discovered and explored. Here is a historical incident, because of which the beaver has become a symbol of the state.
As for our country, the bear is traditionally considered a symbol of Russia. A Russian is like a bear, like a Frenchman is like a rooster, he is harmless and kind, clumsy and clubfoot, but, seeing the enemy, turns into a real fearless predator. After one of the wars between Russia and Prussia, Frederick II said: "Do not wake the Russian bear in the den."
By the way, when some country is lucky enough to host the Olympic Games, it is often her animal symbol that becomes the symbol of the Olympics, so the Russian bear once became one.