National symbol

A national symbol is a defining element of national identification , language and culture . Often national symbols are associated with the great history of a nation or a people . In a legislative act, some of these state symbols are elevated to national emblems . If it is an allegorical figure, one speaks of a national allegorical figure .

Origin and use

National symbols serve to illustrate the ideas that carry a state and especially a community . They enable a "personal commitment of the citizen to his people" and make the state "perceptible to the senses". National symbols are seldom created purposefully from above, but more often spontaneously. On the contrary, the purposeful conscious attempt to create national symbols often fails. Many national symbols were initially a symbol of protest against the prevailing order, which after the success of the protest became the “victory symbol of the renewed political culture”. Examples of this are the blue-white-red tricolor as a symbol against the absolute power of the French king, which became the new state flag of France after the successful French Revolution , or the song of Germany as an expression of hope for a unified nation-state, Germany , which later became the German National anthem was chosen. Especially in view of this often spontaneous history of origin, the following applies to the question of the concrete definition: "There is no clearly defined concept of the national symbol."

The more precise meaning of each national symbol is also subject to change:

“Just as the nation is not based on objective criteria of 'ethnic', cultural or political affiliation, but is only brought about through a meaningful relationship between the constituent members via an 'act of social magic' ( Bourdieu ) […], the The sense of national symbolism is always reassigned by the community. "

- Charlotte Tacke 1995, p. 18

Therefore, neither national symbols themselves nor the respective meanings of a national symbol have eternal value. For example, the former German Reich not only changed flags and anthems several times, but also played off national holidays and memorial days "in the confrontation of the political camps against each other and used them up in the change of political systems ."

The meaning of a national symbol can therefore only be understood through the respective actions of a community that it undertakes in relation to the symbol. The national symbol thus represents a nation both as an imagined community and as “a socially differentiated society”.

The national symbols in the narrower sense include the flag or the colors, the coat of arms and the national anthem . There are also national holidays , monuments and state honors and state buildings. To national symbols but also to national hero and founding Nationalepen , national poet , Nationalallegorien , animals , plants or food ( national dishes ) are.

National symbols for Germany

Crowds on the Berlin Wall at the end of 1989. Since the reunification in 1990 at the latest , the Brandenburg Gate has been Germany's most important symbol.

State symbols

• the federal eagle as a national heraldic animal
• the national colors black-red-gold
• the flag of unity
• the German national anthem (third verse of the song of the Germans ) with the motto-like beginning "Unity and Law and Freedom"

Buildings

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

• the Brandenburg Gate with the Quadriga as a monument to the defeat of the division of Germany
• the Frankfurt Paulskirche and the Hambacher Schloss as the cradle of German democracy
• the Cologne Cathedral , the largest cathedral
• the Wartburg as a national monument of German history
• Neuschwanstein Castle , Schwerin Castle , Rothenburg , the Walhalla , Heidelberg and the Rhine Valley as symbols of German Romanticism ( see also Romantic Road )
• Old towns with half-timbered houses perceived as typical of the country ( see also German half-timbered street )
• the Reichstag building as the seat of the German Bundestag
• the victory column as a monument to the wars of unification
• Germania monuments , Bismarck monuments and imperial monuments

Figures and people

• the Germania as Nationalallegorie
• Arminius (or Hermann the Cheruscan), formerly a national hero as the “first German” and winner of the Varus Battle , as well as other mythically charged figures such as Emperor Barbarossa
• Johann Wolfgang Goethe as German national poet a. a. of fist
• Brothers Grimm with their fairy tale collection
• Martin Luther as the originator of the church reformation
• Johann Sebastian Bach , Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as national composers
• the romantic artists Caspar David Friedrich and Richard Wagner
• the German Michel (as a caricature)
• Till Eulenspiegel as a rebellious rogue and one of the world's first literary bestsellers
• Loriot as a national comedian

Others

• the oak and oak leaves as symbols z. B. on German coins and signets
• the black cross as a military emblem
• The cornflower was raised to the national flower in the 19th century for its Prussian blue color (see cornflower # Germany )
• the Nibelungenlied as a national epic with Siegfried the dragon slayer as the hero
• Made in Germany , perceived worldwide as a product seal of quality
• Food and drinks (especially abroad) perceived as typically German, such as German beer , mulled wine , herbal liqueurs , bratwurst , Black Forest cake , sauerkraut , pork knuckle , sauerbraten , currywurst , frankfurter sausages and spaetzle . (see German cuisine )
• German Christmas with traditional customs, Christmas markets and many specialties such as gingerbread , Spekulatius , Zimtstern , as well as decorative elements such as the Schwibbogen , Christmas pyramid , Advent calendar and Christmas tree
• German folk festivals , especially Oktoberfest
• Garden gnomes and cuckoo clocks as traditional decorative elements
• the forest zither and the German lute advanced to become national musical instruments in the early 20th century
• Waltz and (especially Bavarian ) polka as national dances

Commons : National Symbols for Germany  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

National symbols for Austria

The Austrian flag in the colors red-white-red

The alpine edelweiss is a national symbol and can be found, for example, on the Austrian 2-cent coin

Symbols of sovereignty and history

• the colors red and white of the Austrian flag ( red-white-red ) (can, for example, appear as festive floral decorations, in clothing or in neo- Rococo furniture of Schönbrunn and the Hofburg )
• the Austria as Nationalallegorie (equivalent to the Latin name for Austria )
• the Austrian national anthem , "Land of Mountains [...]"
• the coat of arms of the Republic of Austria and the shield
• the Ostarrîchi document
• the Austrian State Treaty and the associated Austrian neutrality
• the Austrian imperial crown as a symbol of the monarchy until 1918
• AEIOU , a Habsburg motto
• the regalia of the Holy Roman Empire , which are now kept in the treasury of the Vienna Hofburg .
• ku k or kk , a term that is still in use today for former state awards and institutions (e.g. kuk purveyor to the court )

Culture, music and important buildings

• the St. Stephen's Cathedral , the largest cathedral in Austria in the first district of Vienna
• the Schönbrunn Palace , the summer residence of the Austrian monarch until 1918 in the 13th district and connected to the Vienna Zoo as the oldest still existing zoo in the world
• the Belvedere Palace , Palace Prince Eugene of Savoy in the 3rd district
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and associated with it the Mozart balls
• " On the beautiful blue Danube ", the blue Danube waltz as the epitome of the waltz by Johann Strauss (son)
• the Vienna State Opera with the annual Vienna Opera Ball at carnival time
• the Wiener Musikverein in the 1st district of Vienna
• the Vienna Philharmonic , which performs in the Vienna Musikverein and the Vienna State Opera
• the annual New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic , which is followed by more than 50 million television viewers worldwide every year.

Others

• the Heuriger as a traditionally seasonally limited wine bar, going back to Joseph II's license from 1784
• Edelweiss and gentian as national flowers
• the Austrian Alps with the Großglockner as the highest mountain in Austria
• of skiing as a vehicle for meaning national symbol
• the Wiener Schnitzel

National symbols of Switzerland

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• the flag and coat of arms of Switzerland
• the legendary figure Wilhelm Tell as a national hero
• the Rütliwiese
• the Helvetia as Nationalallegorie
• the Matterhorn as the "national mountain"
• of Lake Geneva with the Jet d'eau and the Chillon Castle
• the Landsgemeinde as a symbol of direct democracy in Switzerland
• the Bundeshaus as the seat of parliament
• the Lucerne Chapel Bridge
• St. Moritz as a world-famous winter sports destination
• the alphorn
• the Swiss Army Knife
• the cow
• Swiss cheese , Swiss chocolate , hash browns and cheese fondue as traditional products

National symbols of other countries

Europe

• Belgium : the Atomium , the Manneken Pis , Jeanneke Pis , Belgian beer, French fries , pralines
• Denmark : the Dannebrog , the Düppeler Mill , the Little Mermaid , Mor Danmark as a national allegory , the Tivoli in Copenhagen, the national writers Hans C. Andersen and Holger Danske , the castles Kronborg , Amalienborg and Frederiksborg
• France : the Eiffel Tower , the tricolor , Marianne as a national allegory, the Gallic rooster , the lily
• Greece : the Acropolis , Mount Olympus , the laurel wreath , the olive tree
• Great Britain : Big Ben , John Bull , Britannia as a national allegory
  • England : the St. George's Cross , the red rose , William Shakespeare as a national poet, Tea Time
  • Scotland : the Andrew's cross , the kilt , the bagpipes , Robert Burns and Walter Scott as national poets, the old town of Edinburgh with its castle complex, the Highlands , Loch Ness
• Ireland : the harp , the shamrock , St. Patrick
• Italy : the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa , the Duomo in Florence, Dante Alighieri as the national poet, Giuseppe Garibaldi as the national hero, Italia as the national allegory , Stella d'Italia
• Malta : the Maltese Cross , the Blaumerle , Valletta
• The Netherlands : the royal family, the Binnenhof, the Monument op de Dam, the color orange, the Dutch lion, tulips, wooden shoes (Klompen), the Dutch maid (Nederlandse Maagd), the "sea hero" Michiel de Ruyter, Willem van Orange as father of the fatherland, the national poet Joost van den Vondel
• Norway : the flag of Norway , Borgund stave church , Vestlandet - Fjords , Storting , Oslo City Hall
• Poland : the white eagle as the national heraldic animal, the Wawel castle complex in Krakow, the white stork , the red poppy flower , the royal castle in Warsaw, Adam Mickiewicz as the national poet, Fryderyk Chopin as the national composer , the group dance Polonaise , the corner cap , the wing riders , the Vistula as natural lifeline of Poland, Polonia as a national allegory
• Russia : Red Square with the Kremlin in Moscow, the Seven Sisters , the bear as the national allegory, the double-headed eagle as the national heraldic animal, the matryoshka , Father Frost , the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Alexander Pushkin as the national poet
• Sweden : the three crowns , Gamla stan , Turning Torso , Astrid Lindgren as a national writer

• Spain : the bull , flamenco dance with castanets , the Giralda , Gran Vía , Plaza de España and Calatrava city in Seville, Guggenheim Bilbao
• Czech Republic : the Bohemian lion as the national heraldic animal, Bedřich Smetana's “ Moldau ”, the mythical seer Libuše , the mountain Říp , the Prague Castle , the winter linden as the national plant
• Turkey : Ataturk , red tulip, crescent moon and star, Hagia Sophia
• Ukraine : the Trysub (translated trident), Maidan with Independence Monument , Taras Shevchenko monument , Kosak Mamaj as Nationalallegorie
• Hungary : the Turul , Parliament

Asia

• India : Tiranga , Elephant , Bengal Tiger , the Ashoka Lion Capital , the Wheel of Law , Taj Mahal , Gateway of India , Lotus Temple , Golden Temple , the Spice Curry , Velha Goa , Siddhartha Gautama
• Israel : the Star of David , Old Jerusalem with the Dome of the Rock and Western Wall , the Menorah , Masada
• Japan : Fuji-san , Tokyo Tower , 22 shrines , Kyōto Imperial Palace , Edo castles ( above all Himeji ), the cherry blossom , the chrysanthemum
• Singapore : Merlion as a national symbol and landmark
• Thailand : the white elephant Wat Phra Kaeo with the Emerald Buddha and Siam Palace

Africa

• Namibia : The national symbols of Namibia are enshrined in the National Symbols Act of 2018. These are the state flag , coat of arms , the national anthem , seal and presidential standard. In addition, the coat of arms indirectly shows the fish eagle as the national bird , the gemsbok as the national animal and the Welwitschia as the national plant.
• Sierra Leone : national anthem , national flag , national coat of arms and the national oath .
• South Africa : In South Africa, numerous national symbols are legally enshrined. In addition to the national anthem of South Africa , the national flag and the coat of arms , these are the national animal ( Springbok ), the national bird ( blue crane ), the National Fish ( Galjoen ), the national flower ( King Protea ) and the national tree ( Podocarpus latifolius ).

North America

• Canada : the maple leaf , CN Tower , Parliament Hill , Château Frontenac , Banff , Montreal Olympic Stadium
• USA : The Stars and Stripes , Uncle Sam , the Bald Eagle , American Bison , Statue of Liberty , Empire State Building , Capitol , White House , Golden Gate Bridge , Grand Canyon , Old State House Boston , Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Shrine of Democracy)

South America

• Argentina : Blue and white flag with Sol de Mayo , Congress Palace, the Tango , the Guanaco Llama, Diego Maradona
• Chile : Bandera , the condor , Pudu , Cape Horn , Valparaíso , La Moneda , La Alameda street in Santiago, Moai
• Brazil : Sugar Loaf and Cristo Redentor , the Carnival in Rio , football , the Amazon
• Colombia : Quindio wax palm and Andean condor

Oceania

• Australia : the kangaroo , the emu , the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Ayers Rock , the Southern Cross
• New Zealand : the Kiwi , the Auckland Sky Tower , Aoraki / Mount Cook

literature

• Jürgen Link, Wulf Wülfing (Ed.): National myths and symbols in the second half of the 19th century. Structures and functions of concepts of national identity ( language and history , vol. 16). Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1991, ISBN 3-608-91062-X .
• Hans Hattenhauer : German national symbols . History and meaning. 4th edition. Olzog Verlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-7892-8183-2 .
• Joseph Jurt: The role of the national symbols in Germany and France. In: J. Jurt, G. Krumeich, Th. Würtenberger (Hrsg.): Change of law and legal consciousness in France and Germany . Berlin Verlag Arno Spitz, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-87061-806-X , pp. 67-90.
• Joseph Jurt: The National Symbols in Brazil: From Empire to Republic. In: D. Heckmann, RP Schenke, G. Sydow (Hrsg.): Constitutional State in Transition. FS for Thomas Würtenberger. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 2013, ISBN 978-3-428-13918-7 , pp. 83-102.
• Klaudia Knabel (Ed.): National Myths - Collective Symbols. Functions, constructions and media of memory (=  forms of memory , vol. 23). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2005, ISBN 3-525-35581-5 .
• Peter Reichel : Black-Red-Gold. A brief history of German national symbols after 1945 . Federal Agency for Political Education, Bonn 2005, ISBN 3-89331-613-2 .
• Peter Reichel: Splendor and misery of German self-expression. National symbols in empire and republic . Wallstein Verlag, Göttingen 2013, ISBN 978-3-8353-1163-3 .
• Marc Valance: The Swiss cow. Cult and marketing of a national symbol . here + now, Baden 2013, ISBN 978-3-03919-291-5 .

Web links

Commons : National symbols  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Hans Hattenhauer : Nationalsymbole , in: Werner Weidenfeld, Karl-Rudolf Korte (Ed.): Handbook for German Unity. 1949-1989-1999. Bonn 1999, ISBN 3-89331-370-2 , here p. 579.
2. ↑ Peter Reichel: Black-Red-Gold. A short history of German national symbols. Bonn, Munich 2005, ISBN 3-89331-613-2 , here p. 7.
3. ^ Charlotte Tacke: Monument in the social space: national symbols in Germany and France in the 19th century. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1995, ISBN 3-525-35771-0 , here p. 18.
4. ↑ Reichel 2005, p. 8.
5. ↑ Charlotte Tacke 1995, p. 18.
6. ↑ Charlotte Tacke 1995, p. 23.
7. ↑ Reichel 2005, p. 99 ff.
8. ↑ State symbols in Germany. Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Home Affairs. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
9. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u} Elmar Elling: National Symbols (December 29, 2005) on the website of the Federal Agency for Civic Education , accessed on March 20, 2018.
10. ↑ FAMOUS QUOTES - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Retrieved December 6, 2017 . 
11. ^ Günter Helmes : Rule and rebellion against God and the world. The feature film essay “Till Eulenspiegel” (1975) . In: Michael Grisko (Ed.): The time, the world and the self. On the cinematic work of Rainer Simon . Potsdam 2016, ISBN 978-3-86505-408-1 , pp. 66–90.
12. ↑ Der Spiegel about Otto Waalkes u. a., quote: "Loriot's death has now vacated the position of national comedian, whose humor everyone can agree on." (July 15, 2013, accessed on May 6, 2015).
13. ↑ James Minahan: The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. Volume 1. Greenwood Press, Santa Barbara 2010, ISBN 978-0-313-34496-1 , p. 407 (English).
14. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from January 19, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , January 20, 2015 
15. ↑ [1] , January 20, 2015
16. ↑ https://www.zeit.de/2013/08/Ski-WM-Oesterreich/seite-3
17. ↑ Valance 2013, p. 6 ff.
18. ^ Polish History - White Eagle , accessed February 16, 2013.
19. ↑ Zeit: the bear is the symbol of the Russian man , accessed on February 18, 2013.
20. ↑ Russian Embassy: The national coat of arms ( Memento of the original from July 16, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 18, 2013. 
21. ↑ stockholm stadshuset drei kronen.html  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 16, 2013.  
22. ↑ Enforex: Bull Spain , accessed on February 19, 2013.
23. ^ Ernst Lüdemann: Ukraine (= Beck'sche series 860 countries ). 3rd, completely revised edition. CH Beck oHG, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-406-54068-6 , p. 20.
24. ↑ The legendary Turul Vogel , accessed November 29, 2013.
25. ↑ Knowledge: Flags and coats of arms of the world: India ( Memento of the original from June 11, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 21, 2013. 
26. ↑ Flower Symbolism: The Symbolic Meaning of the Chrysanthemum in Japan , accessed February 19, 2013.
27. ↑ National Symbols. Office of the President. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
28. ^ The National Symbols of Sierra Leone. National Commission for Democracy, October 2011.
29. ^ What are the National symbols. Department of Arts & Culture, Republic of South Africa. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
30. ^ Spiegel: Bald eagle heraldic animal of the USA , accessed on February 17, 2013.
31. ^ T-Online Reisen: Die Kiwi-Insel , accessed on February 18, 2013.