The French tricolor, symbol of a revolution
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It can be seen proudly waving in every corner of France, the French flag, with its blue, white, and red trio, has much more to tell than it seems: it is a strong symbol of ideals and epochal changes.
The History of the French Flag: 1790, it sparked the revolution!
The French Tricolor was born in the midst of the French Revolution, a period when the people decided it was time to overturn the state and rewrite the rules. Before then, the monarchy had its symbol, but with the storming of the Bastille, things were changing.
In 1790, a first version of the tricolor arrived, but it was in 1794 that it took the form we know today.
What do those three colors mean?
Each color of the French flag has its reason:
Blue : associated with the city of Paris and freedom
White : the color of the monarchy, color of the House of Bourbon (after the fall of the monarchy it is attributed to Joan of Arc)
Red : also the color of Paris and the color of blood shed for freedom
One flag, many versions
Throughout French history, the flag has undergone many changes: it was abolished with the Restoration then reinstated with the Second Republic, modified by the Empire... In short, it hasn't always been at the forefront, but it has endured, and today the French flag is the strong symbol of a Republic that places liberté, égalité, fraternité at its core.
Curiosities: did you know that...
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The shade of blue and red has changed over time. Until the 1970s, they were darker. Then, with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, a brighter, more television-friendly look was chosen, and it was treated almost like a national rebranding.
President Macron in 2020 decided to revert the blue and red to their original 1794 shades, but to date, no official directive has been issued. -
On July 14th (Bastille Day) during the French national holiday, it can be seen waving everywhere, in parades, fireworks, and on music stages in the square.
- The overseas regions of France have the French flag as their sole official flag, despite having their own local flag which is often, mistakenly, referred to as a "national flag," not being nations in their own right.
