Here we are once again learning more quirks about one of the cornerstones of the English language : the US. Did you read my post about Independence Day ? Well, now you're fully prepared for this one. In this post I would like to honour this beautiful country by stating some of its most known symbols :
Symbols and emblems of the US
a) The US flag
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| From : http://www.usaflagsupply.com/american-flags/ |
Who hasn't seen the US flag in films, TV serials or hanging from the houses ? It is a symbol of patriotism. All the US citizens carry it or have a representation of it in their clothes during Independence Day (July, 4th) or the Veteran's Day (11th November). As you will know, there are 50 stripes including the fifty states comprised in the US, and thirteen stars, representing the first thirteen colonies which declared independence from the United Kingdom.
Colours bear a lot of importance as well : the white colour represents innocence and purity; red represents hardiness and courage and blue is the colour of justice.
b) The bald eagle :
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| From : http://guff.com/20-bald-eagles-who-love-america |
This is the US representative animal. Why ? There are various reasons : first and foremost, it is an animal that lives for a long time, so it is often associated to perseverance and hardiness. In addition it is a noble animal featured by its strength and resilience, an animal that lives alone in the mountains, being totally free.
c) Skyscrapers : The US is cramped with skyscrapers. They are everywhere. Why ? Probably because skyscrapers represent grandeur and they are majestic creations. Somehow they represent the American dream : everything is possible. One of the most important skyscrapers is the Empire State Building.
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| From : http://www.esbnyc.com/ |
d) The statue of Liberty : Who doesn't know it ? Built by Gustave Eiffel (yeah ! You heard right !) ,the statue represents freedom since it represents the Goddess of liberty. However, it is more frequently associated to a feeling of hope especially for the foreigners who arrive in the US looking for an opportunity. The statue will welcome newcomers standing majestically over Liberty Island and this is why it is holding a torch. It also holds something law-like, so it is closely connected to justice, reminding foreigners that they must abide by the law if they want to succeed. The statue was built in Paris who gave it to the US as a symbol of gratitude. There are two more "replicas" of the statue in Paris and Vegas.
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| From : https://www.statuecruises.com/ |
e) Hamburger : With 50 million burgers eaten yearly in the US, and three hamburgers eaten weekly by each household, we cannot deny that burgers have become a national symbol for the US. There is even a National Hamburger Day (28th May).
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| From : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hamburgers |
f) Bison / buffalo : This almost sacred animal dates back to a time of an American populated by Indians. It is often linked to abundance, strength, stability and prosperity, survival and honour. The native Americans worshiped the bison to secure their abundance of food and harvest.
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| From : http://www.rikkflohr.com/specials/thunderinwinterprint.htm |
g) Turkey : Another very popular animal . Tons and tons of turkeys are eaten all along the year, especially on Thanksgiving and at Christmas. In fact, 46 million turkey are eaten only on Thanksgiving. Every year, two turkeys are pardoned by the president, that means the lives of two turkeys are speared, while millions and millions are slaughtered to serve as food.
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| From : http://theanimalglobe.com/turkey-clipart/ |
h) The national anthem : The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most important songs in the US. I am sure you will have listened to it in films or in TV serials such as The Simpsons, or during the breaks of Superbowl. The song is an example of resilience, enhancing the bravery and courage of the US people and soldiers. It is an inspiring song that all the citizens take extremely seriously and you can see in the video :
i) The White House : Another representative symbol of the Americans. The White House has repeatedly been shot in all kinds of films. Once more it represents America's grandeur since it has 132 rooms, including a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a cinema, outdoor basketball and tennis courts and 35 bathrooms. Isn't it amazing ? The perfect house to organise scavenger hunts. In fact, it is a tradition to organise a scavenger hunt for the children of the new president. President George Washington had the idea to build it and President Adams was its first inhabitant. The White House has even a webpage that you can see here. Thus, the White House has become an undeniable symbol of leadership, given that it has stood there over the centuries and has put up countless and countless presidents.
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| From : https://www.whitehouse.gov/about/inside-white-house |
j) American football and baseball : These sports clearly represent the US. American football is watched every Sunday and on Thanksgiving wishing to see their favourite team's touchdowns. Everybody is watching when the Superbowl is on. This huge annual event is never missed since it displays a wide range of performances and acting, a display of fireworks,... amazing ! Advertisements during Superbowl are outrageously expensive reaching 5 million dollars !
Regarding baseball, it is really popular among schools. Pitchers, catchers and batters struggle to get the final goal : a home run. Here you can see a video-quiz about these sports. Why don't you try doing it ?
Baseball and American football on PhotoPeach
k) Arms : Sadly, arms and weapons have become commonplace in the US. As you may already know, Americans have the right to bear arms to defend themselves. Citizens usually carry more than one gun as it is established in the second amendment of the Constitution. There have been several attempts to limit this amendment, but most of them have failed. The arm policy has led to shooting sprees in high schools or to some big companies mildly requesting their customers not to bring guns to their shops.
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| From : http://49ccscoot.proboards.com/thread/8652/lock-scooter |
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