LL-L "Vexillology" 2010.08.02 (01) [EN]

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*L O W L A N D S - L - 02 August 2010 - Volume 01*
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From: Roger Thijs, Euro-Support, Inc. <roger.thijs at euro-support.be>

Subject: LL-L "Vexillology" 2010.08.01 (03) [EN]



For defending and maintaining Dutch as administrative language in Belgium
the "Flemish lion" has always served:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlag_van_Vlaanderen for both flag and coat of
arms.

It goes back to the coat of arms of the county of Flanders:

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graafschap_Vlaanderen



It is a black lion on a gold background.

There is much discussion whether the claws and tongue have to be red or not.



As a matter of fact, and legally the claws and tongue are red for:

- the coat of arms of the province of East-Flanders (and part of the coat of
West-Flanders)

- the coat of arms AND flag of the new autonomous region Flanders (which
includes all Northern provinces with Dutch as administrative language).

In the process of stepwise regionalization it started as flag of the
"Flemisch Cultural Community".



The claws and tongue remain black with the body of the lion for:

- the Flemish movement

- the Flemish extreme right.



The gannet, "Blauwvoet", "Jan-van-Gent" has been a competitive symbol.

For the Blauwvoet as song see: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blauwvoet

Statue of Rodenbach with gannet:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_Rodenbach



Since the Belgian colors are black-yellow-red, getting red out is a
demonstration of taking distance from Belgium. The belgian colors come from
the Brabantish coat of arms: a golden lion with red claws and tongue on a
black background. The Belgian Anthem is also called "la Brabançonne".



The Flemish lion has a very strong function as identifier of a
languiage-cultural area in Belgium. I don't think anybody wants to replace
it with a new lowlands cultural concept.

In the Northern France Westhoek one sees quite some Flemish lions at
festivities. There it has no linguistic meaning, but serves to identify the
region, wich once was part of the County of Flanders. It is a symbol of
regional identity within France.



Confusing may be that one also finds the Flemish lion somehow back in the
coats of arms of Namur and Hainaut:



http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graafschap_Namen

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namen_(provincie<http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namen_%28provincie>)




http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graafschap_Henegouwen

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henegouwen



These areas belonged at moments to territories owned by the Count of
Flanders.



Regards,

Roger



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