National symbols of Spain

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The Monarch is the head of state, symbol of its unity and permanence. Order of the Civil Merit Ceremony. 5th Felipe VI Reign Anniversary 02 (cropped).jpg
The Monarch is the head of state, symbol of its unity and permanence.

According to what is stipulated in the Spanish Constitution, the Kingdom of Spain has three symbols: [1] The Spanish national flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem. Unofficially, there are also additional traditional symbols. The national personification, Hispania, is little used nowadays although it is present in different artistic expressions. The traditional symbolic animals of Spain are the fighting bull and the imperial eagle.

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The National Day of Spain (Spanish: Fiesta Nacional de España) is a national holiday held annually on 12 October. It is also traditionally and commonly referred to as the Día de la Hispanidad (Hispanicity, Spanishness Day [2] ), commemorating Spanish legacy worldwide, especially in Hispanic America. [3]

Religious symbols

The patron saint of Spain is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, but Saint James the Apostle and Our Lady of the Pillar are highly revered religious figures in Spain, and are considered patrons of different regions and groups.

Saint James the Apostle has been the patron saint of Spain since the 9th century, and his feast day is celebrated on July 25th. Our Lady of the Pillar is the patron saint of "Hispanidad" and her feast day is celebrated on October 12th. She is also the patron saint of Zaragoza and the Civil Guard.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was declared patron saint of Spain in 1644, and her feast day is celebrated on December 8.

Kingdom of Spain

Name and flagNational personificationNational animalsNational flowerCoat of armsMottoAnthem
Spain
Flag of Spain
Bandera de Espana.svg 		Hispania
Biblioteca Nacional de Espana (Madrid) 02b.jpg 		Spanish Fighting Bull (No official)
Sanchez Cobaleda.jpg 		Carnation
W carnation4051.jpg 		Coat of arms of Spain
Escudo de Espana (variant).svg 		Plus Ultra
(Latin)
"Further beyond"
"Marcha Real" (Royal March)

Note: It is one of only four national anthems in the world that have no official lyrics

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The State Symbols of Spain". La Moncloa. 28 March 2005.
  2. ↑ ""hispanidad"". Collins Spanish-English Dictionary.
  3. ↑ Paloma Aguilar, Carsten Humlebæk, "Collective Memory and National Identity in the Spanish Democracy: The Legacies of Francoism and the Civil War", History & Memory, April 1, 2002, pag. 121–164
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