Symbols of Calontir
Introduction
Various symbols and totems have become associated with Calontir as can be seen in our Arms, badges, awards and order names.
The Cross of Calontir
- The Cross of Calontir is heraldically known as a Cross of Calatrava.
- It is found on the Kingdom Arms (pictured), the Kingdom Ensign (which is also used as a populace badge and standard augmentation), and multiple award badges including the Order of the Calon Cross.
The story/ies of how it came to be on the Arms of the Kingdom:
- Per Master Crag:
- Master Crag: Okay, we had to move shop and now we are sitting under the Purple Pavilion. Jeff, what does it feel like to see the Cross of Calatrava every where?
- Baron Geoff: I love it, I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT! I liked the shape of it, back years ago. To me it was a graceful, pretty cross and I suggested it for Calontir as much for those as the symbolism. Suggested it, no, I almost demanded it for Calontir. And we were lucky enough to get it passed. ...Each of the officers was responsible for coming up with their own award. I did the Cross of Calontir. William of Bellwood was elected Master of Sciences and he came up with the Silver Hammer.
- Baron Geoffri of Wareine Interview
- Per Karen Talbot: "The Cross on the original arms was red on a white background, with the laurel wreath (green, of course). It did indeed conflict with real world heraldry.There was a discussion about using the cross on the arms, and people who were not Christian objected."
- Per Olga Belobashnina Cherepanova: "There were also objections raised as to its historical association with the Spanish Inquisition. Also with the use of a late period style of Cross to represent an Anglo-Saxon based Kingdom."
The Falcon
- From Brock Hanke - A piece of info for you [Ixtilixochitl de los Indios] fighting under the falcon banner for King Chepe. Chepe was the person who originally put forth the idea of the falcon being Calontir's token animal. This was at a Witan meeting during his first rulership (he was a Warlord in the Region or a Prince in the Principality, I forget which, maybe both, but BEFORE the Kingdom). We were trying to decide what totem animal to use, and he just said, "Falcon. I want it to be the Falcon." None of us were really worked up about any of our own choices, so we just said, "OK" and that was it.
- The Falcon, as noted above, is on the Kingdom war banner. It also appears on the Kingdom War Badge (used by both Calontiri and allies at war), and various awards.
- The Mews is the official Calontir newsletter, because... it is the Falcon's pen.
- The Falcon Banner is the unofficial electronic newsletter.
The Purple and Gold
- story...
The Lily and Fleur-di-Lis
- story...
The Demo-Bison
- I had heard, years ago and from some sources, that the need for a warlike totem animal was one of the impetuses behind Baron Steven creating the demo-bison. - Christian d'Hiver
Master Robert Sartor von Pays-Bas was Calontir's first laurel and the Premier of the Calon Lily. His totem animal was a silver demobison (bat-winged bison). Baron Stephen Ironhand wrote a story of RSVP’s journey and entry into the A & S competition at Pennsic. The actual story is set before we became a Kingdom. RSVP arrived just as the entries were closing, and the person in charge looked at him in his travel clothes of jeans, chaps and a cowboy hat (big hint on where the Demobison came in) and said “Let the cowboy in what harm can IT do?” RSVP took home nearly every prize from that contest. -per Mellitus and Karen Talbot
- The Legend of Argent, the Silver Demobison by Steven Ironhand
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