THE EXPLORER SYMBOLS
The Bassaunt
The Baussant is the flag of the Guides and Scouts of Europe and the Federation of North American Explorers. The word “Baussant” comes from old French meaning “beau signe” or “beautiful sign”. This banner was created and adopted in 1966 during the movement’s pilgrimage to celebrate the millennium of – Mont St. Michael.
The Bassaunt features the Emblem (see right) charged over a bicolor of white and black representing the struggle between good and evil.
The Emblem
The Emblem of the entire UIGSE movement is described as “argent an eight-pointed cross gules, overlaid with a golden fleur-de-lis” and was chosen by the movements founders in Colonge, Germany in 1956.
The red maltese cross invokes knighthood and the virtues of courage and generosity. The gold fleur-de-lis is the international symbol of scouting as chosen by Lord Baden-Powell and also represents north on a map.
The Coat of Arms
The FNE Coat of Arms centers the Sacred Heart of Jesus surrounded by a crown of thorns. The six-pointed star of Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception and the patroness of the United States, stands vigil at the upper left; the trillium, the provincial flower of Ontario, sits at the upper right. It symbolizes St. Joseph, the patron of Canada. Together, they form the Holy Family. Three Fleur-de-Lys adorn the red chevron, symbolizing the Holy Trinity and the blood of Christ and the martyrs. The blue at the top shows the mantle of Our Lady’s motherly protection.
The California Cristero Flag
We sometimes fly an unofficial variation of our state flag. The ‘California Cristero’ flag does not belong to the FNE or the El Camino Real group. Instead it is a personal design in the public domain for anyone who wants to use it. Image files for the flag, including variations which feature the Union Star instead of the Cruz de Santiago can be found by clicking here. (Link coming soon)
Explanation and note from the designer:
The California Grizzly (whose name is ‘Monarch’) remains in his spot of glory as depicted on the original flag (proper, passant, and in compartment). The text is displayed in the same California Gothic font but now reads “Viva Cristo Rey” (Long live Christ the King). The Union Star is replaced with the Cruz de Santiago (Cross of Saint James) and a gold stripe is added underneath the red adding a reference to the Spanish red-gold-red flag to the white-red of the California Republic.
The flag pays homage to the Catholic Spanish and Mexican history of California while maintaining the striking visual elements of her tenure as one of the 50 States of the American Union. The design was conceived as a way to foster state pride in the Catholic Californians while also sending the message that we desire to keep our fatherland true to her Catholic roots.
GET IN TOUCH
We’d love to have you alongside us on the way.
You can see our upcoming meetings and events on our events page and send an email to co*****@*************ne.com