National Colors -
Red and White
History records that in the First Crusade
Bohemund I, a Norman lord, had red crosses cut from his mantles
and distributed to the 12,000 crusaders, who wore them as
a distinctive badge on their garments.
In subsequent crusades, each nation was distinguished
by a cross of a different color. France long had a red cross
on its banners while England used a white cross. Time and
again in history red and white are found as the colors of
France or of England.
Red and white were approved as Canada's official
colors in the proclamation of her coat of arms in 1921.
In 1957, the color of the maple leaves on
the shield of the Royal Arms of Canada was changed from green
on a white ground to red on a white ground in recognition
of Canada's official colors.
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Canadian Symbols |
