Today, heraldry has acquired its narrow, and at the same time unique meaning. Not every family has a family coat of arms, but those who have it can boast of its deep meaning and impressions that arose in the process of its manufacture (even though they were not even making the coat of arms). A particularly fascinating moment is the meaning of each symbol, which is carefully selected during the development process. What do these lions, shields, crowns mean? What is the color and shape of the coat of arms? And most interestingly, how to create a family coat of arms on your own?
Development
It’s not so difficult to answer the last question: an emblem of independent manufacture will be an excellent way to have fun with your family, rallying it and forcing you to look for a common thing. Before you begin the process of manufacturing the coat of arms, you need to absolutely accurately determine the details. Therefore, choosing what will be depicted on the emblem, its future owner determines those qualities and advantages that will best characterize his family. In fact, developing the emblem, the first owner becomes the ancestor, dictating the rules that his growing family will adhere to in the future!
Moreover, the family coat of arms is very different from the personal (and this happens). It is important to remember that, creating a personal emblem, the owner as it describes the qualities inherent only to him, and the family represents the basic values of the family, its dignity and the meaning of life. We will consider how best to approach the choice of the shape and color of the coat of arms and begin with a description of the family coat of arms.
The shape of the coat of arms is the most important factor
The basis for the coat of arms is always a shield. Even modern family crests are based on similar shields. At the very top is the crest. Feathers, a crown, a branch, a sun, a bird, or an angel may appear to them. This, on the one hand, is decoration, and on the other, an important part, which has its own significance, depending on the figure. Next comes the helmet. Often, without giving symbolic meaning to other figures, the owners insert a helmet in the center of the coat of arms. Below is the shield itself, where any geometric shape can be taken as the basis. However, it does matter: the square with a brace below was often chosen by the stiff English, and the rhombus was chosen by elegant ladies. Most often at knightly tournaments during the prosperity of heraldry and symbolism met oval.
On the sides of the shield, often symmetrically, there is a mantle - originally a mantle covering the knight and hanging from the sides. In heraldry, it can be colorfully decorated patterns, the royal mantle of the princes or animals. For example, one can easily imagine two lions or tigers standing on their “hind legs” on both sides of the shield. In addition, at the very bottom is a ribbon with the motto written on it (occasionally located on top). She completes the composition and also has its own meaning. But more on that later.
Coat of arms - not coloring!
The choice of color often becomes the most fascinating and difficult part of developing a family coat of arms. It is important to keep in mind that a one-color emblem always looks dull or too defiant - depending on the color. And vice versa: a lot of small multi-colored details will be too colorful, and from the side the whole picture will not be put together. The most common can be called:
- Red is courage, fearlessness and physical strength. It can be seen among most kings and knights who were distinguished by courage. In philosophy, he meant love.
- White is purity. Innocence or integrity is associated with white, because it is in such robes that angels are dressed in paintings, and paramedics wear white robes, as this is associated with cleanliness.
- Yellow is generosity. Sometimes, to prove the presence of this quality, noble gentlemen turned into motes. In philosophical meaning, yellow means justice, meeting on a par with red on the royal emblems is expected often.
- Black is education. Since modesty and humility always went hand in hand in the concept of the ancients with education, black has all three of these meanings.
- Blue is honesty. In philosophical understanding: faith, they were awarded to those knights who were valued for their loyalty.
- Green is joy. In addition, he is often associated with hope.
Main figures
There are only 8 main figures that family coats of arms can boast of. What each of them means is not so difficult to guess, because the very arrangement on the emblem allows it. The head is the objects located at the top of the shield, and the tip is at the bottom. The belt is occupied by parts that seem to encircle the family coat of arms with a belt. There is also a pillar on which the details are located, which are like vertical stripes.
The cross allows you to arrange small parts with two intersecting strips, and the border as if wrapping a shield with tape. The bandage is always located diagonally on the shield and can go from left to right and vice versa. The last, eighth figure is the rafter, a kind of roof at the bottom of the shield. In addition to these, there are minor, which are most often geometric shapes: shield, square, oval or rhombus.
Non-heraldic figures of the family coat of arms
Inanimate creatures along with animated ones can serve as such images. The choice of non-heraldic figures becomes an exciting occupation:
- A lion. A symbol of strength combined with generosity.
- Eagle. Power along with power attracted kings, which is why they included the eagle in their coat of arms.
- Bear. A combination of strength and wisdom, different from a lion using logic rather than feelings.
- Dog. Fairly expected means loyalty.
- Cock. Embodies the battle, sometimes thoughtless and reckless.
- Falcon. Grace combined with intelligence and courage.
- Book, torch. Literacy or knowledge is the main advantage of the owner.
- Dove, olive branches. The owner's calling card is peacefulness.
Motto
Recall that the family coat of arms has a ribbon on which the motto is written. Most often, the motto can serve as a short capacious phrase, which will most vividly characterize the quality that the family puts at the forefront. This is a kind of second surname. The motto can be both encrypted and understandable only to the owners, and well-known. You can use folk proverbs or famous phrases from films. If they seem small, then Latin options can come to the rescue, because they sound really mysterious!
- Per aspera ad astra - through thorns to the stars.
- Fortes fortuna adjuvat - a bold fate helps.
- "One for all and all for one!"
- Looking back, do not regret, but get experience.
- Family is the best support during a storm.
- We are together not because of something, but no matter what.
Heraldry is a serious thing
In simple words, all of the above is the hallmark of a surname, which is nice and unusual to have. Heraldry can turn a collage or logo into a family coat of arms. However, the rules that have been formed over the years should be taken into account, since if the future owner thinks seriously about the coat of arms, it must be carried out strictly according to a certain technique.
Even after following all the rules, it’s not enough to calm down on this. The layout of the coat of arms is registered and a blazon is compiled - a description. Optional, but you can draw up a complete heraldic description in which the meaning of each color, symbol and figure will be beautifully and in detail described. It is often inserted into a beautiful gift folder or laminated.
Family is a small state
The family coat of arms reveals the best qualities of the family, forcing it to focus on these qualities and correct defects. As for the manufacture, development and meaning of each symbol - it all depends purely on the future owner. This can be serious work, which he wants to entrust to masters, professionals in his field or decides to make a fascinating evening, devoting it to the idea of creating a coat of arms as a family. Often, children in elementary grades are given the task of making their own family crest, thereby making them think about what important role the family has and how important it is to strive to make it better. And everyone, whether it is a child or grandfather wise for years, contributes to this small state.