Are you planning to obtain American citizenship or permanent residence in the United States? Are you preparing for your citizenship test and want to learn a little more about the country? Or were you simply curious about what Americans themselves associate America with? We have collected the main information you need to know about US state symbols.
State symbols of the USA
No country can do without a flag, anthem and seal. The USA is no exception. Many articles and books have been written about each of these three symbols of American nationhood. We will pay attention to the most basic facts that are important to know.
Symbols of the USA
American flag
In America, flags hang on government buildings, along roads, and on the homes of ordinary citizens. The first thing that catches the eye of tourists is large number American flags. But don’t be surprised, they weren’t hung for a holiday, this is their daily location.
The colors of the American flag, like the Russian one, are the well-known tricolor: white, red and blue. It is decorated with 13 stripes, symbolizing the British colonies, which formed the state, and 50 stars, meaning the 50 states that at the moment are part of the USA. If you are planning to take the American Citizenship Test, you should definitely know the answer to this question.
The national flag of the United States is Flag of the United States. It can also be called “Stars and stripes”, “Old Glory” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
Great Seal of the USA
It is this seal that confirms the authenticity of documents issued by the US government. If you've ever looked at the back of a $1 bill, you've seen exactly what the Great Seal of the United States looks like. On the left side of this banknote is the reverse side of the seal, and on the right is the front side. And yes, the Great Seal of the United States has two sides, although seals usually only have one. The obverse of this seal is often considered the coat of arms of the United States.
Stamp – Stamp, seal
Great Seal of the United States 
US anthem
The lyrics for the US anthem are taken from the poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry" (by Francis Scott Key). It is not surprising that Americans sing about the flag in their anthem. This poem was created after the writer witnessed the shelling of the fortress during the Anglo-American War of 1812-1815. The US anthem is called "The Star-Spangled Banner". The song became an anthem only in 1931, and before that the United States did not have a fixed anthem.
Church hymn - hymn
National anthem
National bird of the USA
The most important symbol of the United States (among the representatives of the animal world) is the eagle, only it bears little resemblance to ours. It is essentially a bald eagle, but in English it is called a “bald eagle”. It is this bird that appears on the coat of arms, banknotes and many official documents. The eagle is also depicted on the Great Seal of the United States. He holds 13 arrows in one paw and a palm branch in the other. This shows that the US “wants peace, but is ready for war.”
In the United States there are even laws according to which it is forbidden to kill an American eagle without the appropriate permission.
National bird
Bald eagle – bald eagle 
American architectural symbols
Of course, certain American buildings and monuments are recognized by people all over the world and have already become unique symbols of the United States: the Statue of Liberty, the White House or the Liberty Bell. Images of these items can be found not only on souvenirs for tourists, but also, for example, on postage stamps.
Each of these symbols has its own story. For example, the Statue of Liberty was donated to the United States by the French, and the Liberty Bell convened city residents to read the Declaration of Independence. This bell can still be seen in the city of Philadelphia. The President of the United States still lives and works in the White House. This is the building that is depicted on the twenty dollar bill.
The Statue of Liberty
The White House
The Liberty Bell
Intangible symbols of the USA
The phrase “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States. This phrase is sometimes controversial among Americans. After all, freedom of religion is one of the most important things for every resident of America. This is even enshrined in the US Constitution. You can practice any religion, or you can practice no religion. The phrase is printed on all American paper currency.
Americans have another motto: “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of many, one). This phrase can be seen on the US coat of arms.
In God we Trust - We trust in God
Official motto: National motto
Uncle Sam
Every American is familiar with Uncle Sam. And no, this is not some popular movie actor. This is a humanized image of the USA. Remember on American posters often depict an elderly man in a top hat, blue tailcoat and striped trousers? This is Uncle Sam. This image became especially famous thanks to the posters of the First World War.
Now the image of Uncle Sam is a stable American symbol. You can often hear, for example, that something is needed “for Uncle Sam.” This phrase means that it is needed for the USA.
Uncle Sam - Uncle Sam 
Words in English on the topic national symbols
National colors- national colors. Usually the colors that are on the flag are taken. So sometimes national colors are translated as national flag.
National myths- national myths
Coat of arms- coat of arms, coat of arms
Patriotism- patriotism
Motherland/Homeland/Native land- Homeland
Folk costume- folk costume
Folk dance- folk dance
National animal- national animal
National tree- national tree
Of course there are many other American symbols. Some occur very often, others very rarely. American history is still very short, so everything that is at least in some way related to its creation is carefully preserved by Americans and can even be considered a symbol of the country.
Shutikova Anna
The reverse side of the seal depicts a trapezoidal unfinished pyramid standing on a grassy plain, the top of which is crowned by an eye in a triangle. The pyramid consists of thirteen levels. On the first level is the date 1776 (the date of the declaration of independence of the United States) in Roman numerals - MDCCLXXVI. The pyramid is intended to symbolize the construction of a stable and durable building of a new nation. There is an opinion that the pyramid and triangle with an eye are taken from Masonic symbolism. The eye at the top of the pyramid means the “All-Seeing Eye of Providence.” The inscription “Annuit Cœptis” means “It (the Eye) is favorable to our endeavors.” The eye in the triangle and the accompanying upper motto express the hope for divine protection of the young state and the endeavors undertaken by its citizens. The phrase located on the scroll under the pyramid reads “Novus Ordo Seclorum” - “ New order forever." The year 1776 marks the beginning of a new American era.
The reverse side of the seal is sometimes called its spiritual side. In reality, a double-sided US seal was never produced; the reverse exists only on paper.
List of all elements numbering thirteen
You must have noticed that many elements on the coat of arms are repeated 13 times. This seems a surprising circumstance for a country where this is the attitude towards this figure. Many Americans fear and avoid this figure, but nevertheless face it almost daily. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this, it’s just that 13 is the number of the first states that originally consisted of an independent state (Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island).
13 stars (obverse)
13 stripes
13 arrows in the eagle's paw
13 olive leaves
13 olives on a branch
13 brick pyramid levels
13 letters in the inscription "E Pluribus Unum"
13 letters in the inscription “Annuit Cœptis”, if the letter œ is counted as two
Interesting facts
The coat of arms of the United States does not depict a conventional heraldic eagle, but a very specific species of bird - the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). This beautiful bird lives on the American continent, rarely found in the eastern regions of Russia (Bering Island, Kamenka River). The bald eagle is a predator; feeds on fish, small birds and animals.
Now everyone is already accustomed to the fact that national symbol USA - eagle (more precisely, an eagle, these are similar birds, but still different). However, there was a time when there was heated debate in the country on this issue. The American statesman Benjamin Franklin, speaking very unflatteringly about the eagle, nominated the turkey for the role of the national bird: “This bird (somewhat vain and stupid, but this is not the worst thing for an emblem) is so brave,- he wrote, - who did not hesitate to attack the grenadiers of the British Guards, who happened to invade the farm in their red uniform.". However, the Americans did not listen to the opinion of one of the founding fathers of their country and made the eagle the emblem of the United States. Turkey, however, also became a national symbol - but only a gastronomic one.
The image of the “Great Seal of the United States” was placed on one-dollar bills by act of President Roosevelt on July 2, 1935 and remains on them to this day. On the left is an image of the back side of the seal, on the right is the front side.
The symbolic drink of the USA is bourbon.
Bourbon is an American whiskey, one of the unofficial symbols of the United States. The main difference between bourbon and Scotch, Irish or other whiskey is that bourbon is made from corn (and not from barley, like traditional “European” varieties), and before use it is aged in oak barrels, which must be burnt from the inside. US law clearly stipulates what kind of whiskey can be called bourbon. To do this, the following basic requirements must be met: the drink must be produced in the USA, only grain can be used as a raw material, and corn must be at least 51%, the whiskey must be aged in a new, but pre-burnt from the inside oak barrel. There are also a number of requirements about the alcohol content in bourbon and about limiting the use of additives and colorings (water, caramel, etc.) There is no reliable data on the origin of bourbon, the only certainty is that the first bourbon appeared in the state of Kentucky. At the end of the 18th century, many immigrants from Scotland and Ireland arrived in Kentucky, who knew firsthand about the whiskey production process. It is believed that the first person to try aging whiskey in a fired barrel, which gave bourbon its reddish hue and unique taste, was Baptist preacher, entrepreneur and founder of the city of Georgetown, Elijah Craig. IN early XIX centuries, about two thousand distilleries operated in Kentucky, producing whiskey from corn. Most of them were located in Bourbon County, so the drink they produced began to be called “bourbon.” Kentucky remains a leading producer of bourbon to this day. It is estimated that more than 90% of bourbon is produced in the Bardstown area, which has been called the "Bourbon Capital of the World." Kentucky produces hundreds of bourbons, including Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill, Four Roses and many more. The state of Tennessee disputes the reputation of producing the best American whiskey in Kentucky. The difference between “real Tennessee whiskey” and “classic bourbon” produced in Kentucky is that in Tennessee the whiskey is filtered through charcoal before bottling. The most famous brand of Tennessee whiskey is Jack Daniel's. A trip along the “bourbon trail” is very popular among tourists coming to Kentucky, during which you can visit bourbon factories, learn the history of this drink and, of course, try it. To attract tourists and increasing the popularity of their products, American whiskey producers hold a bourbon festival in Bardstown. Tastings of various varieties of bourbon, a cocktail competition, a “world championship” in barrel rolling and the creation of “sculptures” from them, jazz concerts - these and many other events annually attract people to the “capital”. bourbon" tens of thousands of tourists.
Flower symbol of the USA - rose
This decision was made in 1986 by the US Congress. The law that declares the rose a symbol of the United States states: Americans have always loved the flowers with which God decorates our land. More often than any other flower, we hold roses in our hands as a symbol of life, love, devotion, beauty and eternity. To speak of the love of a man and a woman, of the love of humanity and of God, of the love of one's country, Americans who speak the language of the heart will say it with a rose. ...We have always cultivated roses in our gardens. Our first president, George Washington, grew roses and named the variety he developed after his mother. This variety of roses is still grown today. White House boasts the most beautiful Rose Garden. We grow roses in all of our fifty states. We find roses in all our art, music and literature. We decorate our celebrations and parades with roses... The American people have long carved out a special place in their hearts for roses. Let us continue to cherish them in honor of the love and devotion they symbolize and give them to those we love just as God gave them to us. It is symbolic that the fortieth US President Ronald Reagan signed a resolution assigning the rose the status of the official floral symbol of the United States in Rose Garden White House. The rose flowers are the symbol of the state of New York, and the wild rose is the symbol of the states of Iowa and North Dakota.
The symbol bird of the USA is the bald eagle.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey that lives in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The bald eagle was considered sacred bird in the cultures of many indigenous peoples of North America. Eagle feathers and talons are widely known as parts of Indian jewelry and ceremonial costumes. The bald eagle became the national symbol of the United States in 1782, when its image appeared on the Great Seal of the United States (US coat of arms). The eagle depicted on the front side of the seal holds in one paw the symbol of war - arrows, and in the other the symbol of peace - an olive branch. The author of the proposal to choose the bald eagle for the US coat of arms was the Secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson. According to legend, during one of the first battles for the independence of the young North American republic, bald eagles, awakened by gunfire, flew out of their nest and circled screaming above the heads of the combatants. “They are screaming for freedom,” one American patriot allegedly said. The bald eagle is believed to symbolize strength, courage, freedom and immortality. In the second half of the 20th century, the bald eagle population in the continental United States greatly decreased and was even in danger of extinction. Thanks to measures taken by the US government to restore their numbers, the situation has now improved significantly.
Tree symbol of the USA - oak
In November 2004, the US Congress officially named the oak as the national symbol of the United States. The initiator of this decision was the National Arbor Day Foundation. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1872. On April 10, 1872, during the celebration of the first Arbor Day, about one million (!) trees were planted. In 1971, the National Arbor Day Foundation was created in the United States. non-profit organization, which aims to “inspire people to plant, grow and enjoy trees.” In 2004, the National Arbor Day Foundation held a vote on its website, according to the results of which the majority of Americans who voted (more than one hundred thousand people) chose the oak as the tree symbol of the United States. The US Congress officially confirmed this choice. There are more than sixty species of oak trees in the United States, making oak the most common hardwood species in America. Interestingly, the second most voted tree was the giant sequoia, followed by dogwood, maple and pine.
Perhaps there are not many countries in the world that would treat their national symbols with such reverence and attach such exceptional importance to them. You can talk about the symbols of the USA endlessly; each of them has its own heroic story and in its own way is able to characterize Americans as a nation. For example, the Stars and Stripes of the United States appeared back in 1777, and looked like alternating 13 stripes of white and red, as well as 13 white stars on a blue background. The stars symbolized divine purposes and indicated the number of states, the stripes - rays of light from the sun. Color USA symbols have a deep meaning: red means courage and valor, white - innocence and purity, blue - justice, perseverance and vigilance. It first flew proudly over the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania in the fall of 1777, and in 1818 Congress passed a law that finally approved the design and meaning of the US national flag. The history of another symbol of the United States - its anthem - is closely connected with it. Poet Francis Scott Key witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814, and the wind-blown symbol of American freedom inspired him to write about the events. This poem was eventually set to the tune of "Anacreon in Battle", a famous heroic English song. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially designated by Congress as the national anthem in 1931. Both the anthem and the flag have become symbols of freedom and democracy throughout the world, they are the first thing that appears to a person when he hears about America.
Another of the main symbols of the USA can be called the Great Seal, on which the bald eagle spreads its wings. Appearance The seal was adopted in the summer of 1782, and it symbolizes great aspirations, the independence of the nation and hopes for a better future. In the bird's beak is a scroll with the Latin saying "E Pluribus Unum", which means "Out of many, one", and speaks of the unity of the nation created from 13 colonies. In one leg of the eagle there is an olive branch, in the other there is a bunch of arrows, which symbolizes a power that is great both in war and in peace. On his chest he has a striped red and white shield, which he carries alone, and American citizens should also wear it exclusively on our own. Above the bird's head is a cloud that covers a blue field with 13 stars of the first states. The reverse side of the seal is also endowed with deep meaning; it is sometimes even called spiritual. There is a picture of a pyramid with 13 steps and the year 1776 at the bottom, written in Roman numerals. Above its top is the Eye of Providence and the motto “Annuit Coeptis” (“It favors our undertakings”). The scroll under the pyramid reads "A New Order for All Ages." The custodian of the Great Seal is the Secretary of State, and it can only be affixed to presidential addresses and international agreements.
Also, the state symbols of the United States are the Liberty Bell, which rang at the time of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, “Uncle Sam”, which is a gray-haired man with a goatee in a top hat, dressed in national colors, and buildings of national significance: the White House, as the presidential residence, the Capitol - personifying parliamentary power and the Supreme Court building in Washington. When talking about national American symbols, one cannot fail to mention the well-known Statue of Liberty, the George Washington, Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, Independence Hall and Mount Rushmore. Well, in a common sense, the favorite symbols of Americans can be called sports games baseball and American football, apple pie, hamburgers and hot dogs, bourbon whiskey, as well as Hollywood film studios, Disneyland, the lights of Las Vegas, and Niagara Falls.
Any power is proud of its symbolism. National flag, anthem and coat of arms- each state is unique; the past and present of the country are intertwined in them.
US national flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, is one of the official state symbols of America along with the Great Seal and the country's national anthem.
The US flag is a canvas rectangular shape with alternating 7 red and 6 white horizontal stripes. In the upper right corner, in a dark blue roof, there are 50 white five-pointed stars.
What is the meaning of the stripes on the American flag?
On the flag in overall score 13 stripes symbolizing the 13 former British colonies, which, having signed the Declaration of Independence from British rule in 1776, formed a separate state. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania declared the creation of the United States of America, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The dark blue roof on the right is the symbol of the Union.
What is the meaning of the stars on the American flag?
Red color - endurance and valor;
Dark blue - diligence, justice, vigilance;
White - innocence and purity.
About the colors of the American flag
An interesting fact is that red and blue colors The US flag has official names - "Old Glory Red" and "Old Glory Blue", which is often also called "Navy Blue". These colors are slightly darker than the blue and red colors found in the flags of other countries around the world. It was believed that more dark colors did not fade so quickly in the sun, and there was no need to replace them frequently.
Besides official name, the US flag has a couple of common nicknames: "Stars and Stripes", "Star Spangled Banner" and "Old Glory".
In America, the use of the national flag is protected by US legislation. There is a so-called “US Flag Code”, according to which the basic rules for its use are dictated.
Here is a list of the basic (not all) rules:
The US flag should not touch the ground, water, or floor;
If the edges of the US flag are worn, it must be immediately repaired or burned and replaced with a new one;
At night, the displayed US flag must be illuminated;
The US flag is not permitted on any disposable items, such as napkins, boxes, disposable tableware;
The use of the US flag as clothing or bedding is prohibited;
It is prohibited to bow the US flag to any person as a sign of respect;
The dark blue top of the US flag must always be on top (except for a distress signal);
It is prohibited to write on the US flag, or to wrap anything in it;
It is prohibited to carry the flagpole in a horizontal position. The US flag should always fly at an angle;
The US flag should always hang freely (with the exception of flags planted by American astronauts on the Moon, which for obvious reasons cannot hang or flutter).
US flag flies over government agencies and buildings in certain days. As a rule, these are official holidays:
January:
1 (New Year);
20 (inauguration day of the US President - once every 4 years);
the third Monday of January is Martin Luther King Day;
February:
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12 (birthday of Abraham Lincoln);
3rd Monday (Presidents' Day, coincides with George Washington's birthday);
3rd Saturday (Armed Forces Day);
the last Monday in May is Memorial Day (in memory of fallen American soldiers);
June:
14 (Flag Day);
July:
4 (Independence Day);
September:
1st Monday (Labor Day);
17 (Constitution Day);
October:
2nd Monday (Christopher Columbus Day);
27 (Navy Day);
November:
11 (Veterans Day)
4th Thursday (Thanksgiving Day).
As well as any days of the year that the US President can announce, for example, state birthdays.
Places where the US national flag is always raised, regardless of the day of the year or the solemnity of the event:
Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland;
White House, official residence of the President of the United States;
Capitol - where the US Congress meets;
US Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia;
US Customs and Border Protection;
George Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.;
South Pole of planet Earth;
On the surface of the Moon, where American astronauts planted US flags during their flight.
National symbols of America. USA flag updated: March 30, 2019 by: Tatiana Sinkevich
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