Brittany

The flag of Brittany (Breton: Breizh), called the "Gwenn-ha-du", is the civil and state flag of Brittany, a historically Celtic region in the westernmost part of France.

It has nine horizontal stripes – five black and four white – as well as an ermine canton. It was designed by Morvan Marchal in 1923.

Symbolism[]

The nine stripes represent the traditional dioceses of Brittany into which the duchy was divided historically. The five black stripes represent the French or Gallo speaking dioceses of Dol, Nantes, Rennes, Saint-Malo and Saint-Brieuc, while the four white stripes represent the Breton speaking dioceses of Trégor, Léon, Cornouaille and Vannes. The ermine canton is from the coat of arms of the historical duchy of Brittany.

Ermine[]

Ermine in heraldry is a pattern usually found in heraldry which has a small repeating symbol which is supposed to represent the small weasel-like animal, the ermine. An ermine-spot usually resembles an upside-down tuft of grass with three dots at the top, like in the flag above. it can also be something that resembles the letter U with downward facing lines stemming off of it.

Flag Stigma and Association[]

The flag of Brittany was for a long time, associated with the Breton separatism and was frowned upon by most of the public, but the flag is now viewed as neutral to all causes and flown throughout Brittany, even on government buildings.

Many Bretons falsely believe their flag is the only flag without color in the world, although their fellow Celts and close neighborus Cornwall also have a flag without coloru.

Nickname[]

Ermines and Stripes
- Hermines et rayures

External links[]

References[]

Flags of the Celtic peoples

Brittany	Cornwall	Ireland	Isle of Man
Northern Ireland	Scotland	Wales	Pan-Celtic