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Fleur-de-lis
flur-duh-LEE
Definitions
1
Symbol · Heraldry
Common
A stylized lily or iris flower design used as a decorative symbol in heraldry, particularly associated with French royalty and nobility.
Used to represent French heritage, monarchy, or nobility in both formal and informal contexts.
Just visited the beautiful Château de Versailles ⚜️ So much history!
Instagram travel post
Proud of my French ancestry ⚜️ Looking forward to visiting Paris next year!
Facebook personal post
Historically a symbol of French kings, now represents French heritage and appears on flags, emblems and architecture worldwide.
2
Symbol · Regional
Common
A symbol representing specific regions or organizations with French heritage, particularly New Orleans, Quebec, and the Scout movement.
Often used to show regional pride or organizational affiliation.
Who Dat! Saints are going all the way this year ⚜️
Twitter sports discussion
Celebrating St. Jean Baptiste Day in Montreal today ⚜️
WhatsApp message
Appears on flags of Quebec and New Orleans; also a key symbol in Scouting organizations worldwide.
Evolution Timeline
1147
First documented use as a royal symbol by King Louis VII of France.
Growing need for distinctive royal emblems during the Crusades.
1700
Symbol spread to New France (now Quebec and Louisiana) through colonization.
French colonial expansion in North America.
2015
Gained popularity in digital communication with emoji standardization.
Unicode 7.0 inclusion and growing interest in heritage symbols.
Cultural Context
Originally a stylized lily, the fleur-de-lis became the symbol of French monarchy from the 12th century until the French Revolution.
In Quebec, it represents French-Canadian heritage and appears on the provincial flag, while in Louisiana it symbolizes the region's French colonial past.
Adopted by the Scout movement worldwide, appearing on the World Scout Emblem, representing purity and the right path.
Primary symbol of the New Orleans Saints NFL team, making it particularly popular during American football season.
Regional Variations
Canada
Predominantly used in Quebec to represent French-Canadian heritage and provincial identity.
United States
Strongly associated with New Orleans and Louisiana, particularly the New Orleans Saints NFL team.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Primarily used for regional pride, sports teams, or Scout movement references on Facebook.
Gen_Z: Often used for aesthetic purposes or to represent New Orleans Saints fandom on TikTok and Instagram.
Older: Limited usage, mainly in formal contexts relating to heritage organizations or traditional symbolism.
Millennials: Used to show French heritage, travel experiences, or sports team support on Instagram and Twitter.
Common Combinations
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French football/soccer teams or players
Often used when discussing French national team or Ligue 1 clubs.
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French culture, heritage or history
Used to emphasize French identity or historical references.
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New Orleans Saints football team
Used by fans to show team support, especially during NFL season.