Hey guest, although it is not official, I would say that the "Lince Ib�rico" (Iberian Linx) would have to be the official animal of Spain. Not many foreigners know this but it is only found in Spain and is an endangered species.
More mainstream and obviously what comes to mind first would be the "Toro" (Bull). The bull would have ot be the most representative animal of Spain in the world.
A third choice would be the "Caballo" (Horse) for the Andalucian horses are known worldwide.
As for a flower, no official one either but if I had to choose one I would go with the "Clavel" (Carnation). There is a very popular song about this flower known or at least recognized by every Spaniard.
On the the flag, the history goes a bit like this...
In the old kingdoms of Castile and Arag�n red flag like silk banners were used with castles & lions and 4 stripes respectively. This practice continued even during the reigns of the Catholic Kings, with the dominant use of the colors red and yellow.
Felipe I (1506) "the Beautiful one", in his ephemeral marriage with Reina Juana I of Castile, introduced the distinguishing sign of the house of his mother, Maria of Borgo�a, that is to say, the insignia of Borgo�a or insignia of San Andr�s. This insignia is made up of two tree trunks lacking in branches and crossed. Having been an instrument for the martyrdom of San Andr�s (St. Andrew), they are dyed with his blood and they almost are almost always red or crimson. This symbol, of great importance, lasted from the beginning of the XVI century until 1931 when the Second Republic destroyed it. Since 1971 it appears in the insignia of the Prince of Spain (Pr�ncipe Felipe) and since 1975 in the insignia of the current king of Spain, Juan Carlos I.
Without a doubt, the first Spanish Flag was raised at battle of Pav�a (1525) in which the Spanish troops carried, as their insignia, white cloths with red vanes.
In the 2 centuries that followed, the flag changed forms. Fundamentally carried by the military, there were two official models: the main flag for the Regiments and secondary flags, one for each Company. The main one, which represented the Royal authority, was the one carried by the Company that the "Field Master" sent personally, white with a red or crimson vane and sometimes with other symbols added such as the Imperial Eagle, the Royal Coat of Arms or the Master's Shield. The secondary flags, one per Company, were varied and colorful, with red or crimson vanes and designed to the will of the Captains.
With the coming of the House of Borb�n (1700), King Felipe V renewed and centralized the military institutions; the Regiments were combined (1704) and the main flag was called "Cor�nela" (1707), whereas the others continued somewhat undefined.
In 1728 it was ordered that the main "Cor�nela" flag be white with the shield of the Royal Coat of Arms and with the vane of Borgo�a. On some others the arms of the kingdoms and provinces could be placed in the corners. This general scheme, with loads of different "interpretations" continued to be used during the War of Independence, and all the way until 1843.
Carlos III (1785) instituted the red and yellow flags. The first of three stripes, the center stripe was yellow and twice as wide as the red stripes above and beneath it and it was carried by the military war ships of the Spanish Armada. The second flag had 5 stripes was carried by all other ships in the Armada (Navy). This first 3 stripe flag would later become, step by step, THE Flag of Spain.
Since then, the flag only had Royal representation in the Army, the Navy, the fortresses and the official buildings of Spain. There were many other vried types of flags used in many different ways away from those official uses for the main flag.
The National flag came into play with the Royal Decree of October 13th, 1843.Queen Isabel II delared it to be the National flag and symbol of the Spanish monarchy.
The Second Republic (1931) defined the flag as one formed by three strips of same width, red and yellow and purple with the shield of the Provisional Government of 1868 in the center.
The red National flag was brought back by a decree of the Meeting of Defense in 1936 and appeared with the shield & eagle, with small variations until 1981 when the eagle was removed, leaving the crowned coat of arms.
The FLAG OF SPAIN SYMBOLIZES the NATION, IS SIGN OF SOVEREIGNTY, INDEPENDENCE, UNITY And INTEGRITY OF The MOTHER COUNTRY And ALSO PROMISE OF ITS PERPETUITY through the TIMES.
:z: :z: :z:
Wake up !!!
There is some great info on the Spanish flag at
www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/es.htmlSaludos,
jer...
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