Last modified: 2008-08-30 by jarig bakker
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I am shocked !
This flag has a very similar design to the flag of the parish-district
of Gijon (Asturias, Spain) called Somió, where I live.
I designed the flag myself in 2002, to have it officially approved
in January 2003. I thought it was extremely distinctive!
The district flag of Somió, municipality of Gijón, is a rectangular
flag, proportions 2:3, divided diagonally from the bottom hoist to
the upper fly.
Green , Pantone 361, on top, and white on the bottom.
On the canton, a yellow, Pantone 109, squirrel. On the bottom
fly, a red, Pantone 485, ten pointed star.
The green represents the rural character of the district, on Gijón´s
countryside. The squirrel is a symbol of the neighbourhood, as these animals
live along with the residents.
The red star on white represents the fact that Somió belongs to Gijón,
being red and white Gijón´s colors. The star has ten points for the 10
parts in which Somió is divided: Caserías, San Lorenzo, La Pipa, El Pisón,
La Corolla, La Redonda, Fontanía-La Guía, Fojanes, Candenal y Fuejo.
Jose C. Alegria, 11 Jan 2004
Over here in Amsterdam we can't observe squirrels in the wild, but in
Zelhem (Gelderland) I was very occupied with a book about Charlemagne,
when I perceived an animal in the tree above, which raced down the trunk,
raced some space over the grass, raced back, up the tree, raced down again,
etcetera, etcetera. Perhaps there was 0.000.001 second in which the d***
squirrel was standing in a giffing position, but by then I must have been
deep asleep. I suppose the Puertorican squirrels observe the siesta, as
I would like their Dutch colleagues to do likewise - we don't like a mess
out here!
Jarig Bakker, 30 Jan 2004
I've never seen a squirrel in such a heraldic position. How would one
blazon it? It seems preposterous to talk of a "squirrel rampant"...
Lewis A. Nowitz, 30 Jan 2004
I recall that little fellow as "sejant erect". I believe that is the
correct term for sitting with the front legs off the ground.
Al Kirsch, 30 Jan 2004
The arms of the family Wood are, belive it or not, listed in 'Papworth's
Ordinary of Arms' as "Argent, two squirrels rampant combatant gules
between nine crosses croslet sable." It seems however that most cases,
in England at least, of squirrels on arms have them sejant.
James Dignan, 31 Jan 2004
Lewis A Nowitz's remark about finding it difficult to imagine squirrels
fighting is obviously unaware of the aggressive nature of
these little beasts. The male grey squirrel in particular is intensely
territorial, and having grown up in Norfolk, Virginia (where it often seemed
as if we were living in our house only by the kind permission of the local
squirrel population), I have not only seen male squirrels attack and fight
with one another literally until one of them was killed, but I have also
seen squirrels attack and chase cats and even large dogs. One of our neighbours
had a largeish and very boisterous although rather stupid Chesapeake Bay
retriever, who once made the mistake of attempting to hassle a male grey
squirrel. I was about twelve at the time, and I witnessed the squirrel
stand his ground, and when the dog got within range the squirrel gave him
the kind of quick one-two to the muzzle that most boxers (the human kind,
not the canine!) would have died for. The dog was so shocked that he ran
away howling and was never the same animal again, while the squirrel looked
about him with an air of obvious self-satisfaction and then climbed at
a relaxed pace up the trunk of the nearest dogwood tree.
On the basis of this admittedly subjective evidence I am fully prepared
to defend the squirrel's place as a symbol of aggression,
courage, and defence within the heraldic tradition!
Ron Lahav, 31 Jan 2004
I confirm Ron's comments on territoriality and aggressivity in squirrels.
The same is true for rabbits, whatever Beatrix Potter might have concealed
on this topic :-)
Ivan Sache, 1 Feb 2004