Did you know the rooster is one of the national emblems of France?
This Bastille Day (14th July), we celebrate… the humble rooster!
Bonjour, and welcome back to another article on my Bird Fun Facts blog! This past month, I shared an article on another ‘national bird’: the Bald Eagle of the United States.
So today, I thought it might be fun to cover France’s Bastille Day, and their national bird: the humble rooster!
P.S.: I will be publishing an article on Canada’s national bird too! (Can you guess what it is? Haha)
Before we start, a little history lesson on France - which used to be known as Gaul!
It’s a super long story that has nothing to do with roosters (or birds) but it turns out that originally, it was the Roman civilisation who ‘found’ the country of France, and actually named the region Gaul.
Indeed - France was originally called Gaul by the Romans who gave the name to the entire area where the Celtics lived. This was at the time of Julius Caesar’s conquest of the area in 51-58 BC.
The region of Gaul didn’t just include France; it actually covered a huge land area including France, Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany!
After the fall of the Roman Empire, different tribes fought for power The people who lived in Gaul were not all from the same group, or culture. Even within the French region (because as I said, Gaul was made up of places such as Belgium and Germany etc) there were many different tribes who fight each other in order to rule their local areas.
Many tribes invaded the area, most notably the Vandals (a large tribe from present-day Poland), the Visigoths (a tribe from southwestern France and Spain) and the Franks (a Germanic tribe).
The Franks tribe won, and that’s how France got its name! The Franks were a warrior tribe. During the 5th century, they invaded the area now known as northern France and Belgium (as well as Germany). Their king became the first king of a unified country that became known as the ‘land of the Franks’ thereby receiving its Latin name, Francia or France! Cool stuff.
So what does all that have to do with the rooster?
Sorry, I got a little carried away by the history lesson. :P I like learning about countries just as much as I like learning about birds!
Well anyway, the Gallic Rooster is also known by its Latin name as the the Coq Gaulois. Notice anything cool about its Latin name?
Gaulois…?
The Latin word "gallus" means both Gaul and rooster! The people of Gaul (and later, France) embraced the rooster as a symbol of courage and bravery, and even the French kings adopted it as their own.
Apparently, roosters have been used as decorative ornaments on church bell towers in France for centuries, symbolising vigilance as they crow at the sunrise. In fact, the Gallic Rooster is even featured in French ceramics and wooden furniture, adding a touch of charm to everyday items.
However, it surged again in popularity around the 1800s, after the French Revolution - which, coincidentally, also gave rise to Bastille Day.
Wait - what’s the significance of Bastille Day?
Every country celebrates their National Day for various reasons - in Singapore, where I’m from, we commemorate Singapore's independence from Malaysia in 1965. Similarly, the United States’ celebrates the fourth of July in honour of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
For the Frenchpeople, Bastille Day marks the anniversary of the 1789 fall of the Bastille prison, in Paris. The Bastille was a military fortress that used as a state prison and symbolised the despotic power of the then king.
At that time, France was ruled by an apparently out-of-touch and tyrannical monarchy that taxed its people heavily. The average Frenchman was born as a commoner, into poverty, and had to work and work and work their lives away.
The king had total power over the government and the people, and was said to be, well, a bad king!
As detailed in the incredibly historically accurate documentary, Les Miserables, people were starving, bread was hard to come by, and stealing a loaf of bread for a ‘sister’s child [who] was close to death’ was punishable by 19 years!! A slave of the law…
Anyway, the commoners were mad upset and the storming and take down of the Bastille was a major catalyst that ignited the French Revolution, which would transform the political landscape of France away from tyrannical monarchical rule and into the hands of the people over the last years of the 18th century.
After the French Revolution, French citizens radically altered their political landscape, uprooting centuries-old institutions such as the monarchy, the Catholic Church and the feudal system. Cool!
Now, as one of the national emblems of France, the Gallic Rooster been proudly displayed on French flags since the French Revolution.
And, beginning in 1848, eagle-eyed bird lovers can spot the rooster on the seal of the Republic, with Liberty seated on a rudder decorated by a rooster. It has also made appearances on gold coins and stamps throughout French history.
Today, you can spot the French rooster proudly displayed in many places, from stamps to the entrance of the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president. It's even seen on the jerseys of French football, rugby, and handball teams, as well as on the shirts of Olympic athletes representing France.
So next time you see a simple rooster, remember its rich history and significance as a symbol of France!
And if you happen to be a feudal lord reading this post… remember to be nice to the commoners, or you may end up like the poor king, who died by guillotine.
See you next time! :)
Thank you for the history lesson(s)!! super interesting