Fleur-de-lis fever swept the city of New Orleans – and eventually all of Louisiana – in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
The icon was emblazoned across clothing, flags, windows, bumpers and buildings as residents began to identify themselves with the city they almost lost.
Louisianians drank their morning coffee from fleur-de-lis mugs. They flaunted every form of fleur-de-lis jewelry. They had it inked into their skin.
Nearly three years later, the fleur-de-lis phenomenon continues as the emblem gains status as an official state symbol.
In March, Rep. Nickie Monica, R-LaPlace, drafted House Bill 455 with Katrina survivors in mind.
“Right after Hurricane Katrina, I felt like the fleur-de-lis was a symbol of hope and a symbol of rebuilding,” Monica said.
The bill will name the fleur-de-lis “an” official state symbol, rather than “the” state symbol, to avoid knocking the Brown Pelican off the state flag and seal, Monica said. It passed unanimously in the House and the Senate and now awaits the governor’s approval.
Monica also cited the symbol’s presence throughout Louisiana history as a factor. The New Orleans Saints adopted the fleur-de-lis as part of their uniform in 1967.
But the fleur-de-lis first made its way to Louisiana when the French founded New Orleans in the 1700s, Monica said. The emblem, which signified French royalty, was a staple on their clothing and possessions. Monica said the fleur-de-lis also represents the French heritage that many Louisianians share.
Rachael Abadie, psychology senior, said it is significant to her as a symbol of her heritage and also holds religious meaning – the three points represent the Holy Trinity.
The fleur-de-lis, which literally translates from French as “flower of the lily,” is a stylized image of a lily or iris blossom. The origin is unknown and has been debated for centuries, as the symbol has been found on relics from ancient civilizations around the globe including Mesopotamia, Egypt, Japan and Indonesia.
French royalty adopted it in the 1200s when, legend says, an angel appeared to the king of the Franks upon his conversion to Christianity. For French royalty, the three points stood for perfection, light and life.
Monica said he has had a few critics who say he should not waste his time with a trivial issue while the state comes up short in areas such as education and crime control.
“I want them to tell that to every person who owns fleur-de-lis jewelry, has the decal on their vehicle or [has it] on their shirts,” Monica said. “To those people, it means something.”
To Kathryn Williams, interior design junior, it does. Williams got a fleur-de-lis tattooed on the front of her hip in October 2005 upon returning home from an evacuation.
“Before, I didn’t really appreciate New Orleans,” she said. “Once I was gone, it really meant home.”