A flag you will see everywhere. On public buildings, on balconies, at events: Quebec's blue-and-white flag is everywhere. It is called the fleurdelisé, and every element of it has a story.
What it represents. In heraldic terms, the flag is defined as "azure, a cross argent between four fleurs-de-lis" — in plain words, a blue field, a white cross dividing it into four, and a white fleur-de-lis in each of the four sections, according to the Assemblée nationale du Québec. The fleur-de-lis recalls the French heritage in America: Jacques Cartier already used it as an emblem on his voyages.
A very old flower. The fleur-de-lis is one of the oldest emblems in the world: it appears among the Assyrians three thousand years before our era, then in India, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Gaul. It later became the symbol of the French monarchy — hence its link to Quebec's history.
Official since 1948. On January 21, 1948, the fleurdelisé took the place of the Union Jack, the British flag, atop the central tower of the Parliament Building. That same morning, by decree, the government granted it the status of official flag of Quebec. It was the first official flag of a Canadian province.
Good to know for newcomers. The fleurdelisé is a strong identity symbol: together with the motto "Je me souviens," it sums up Quebecers' attachment to their history. You will see it flown proudly almost everywhere. To better understand the codes here, see our guide to politeness and cultural codes in Quebec.
