Fleur-de-lis Cross

Fleur-de-lis Cross

The Fleur-de-lis Cross is a cross adorned with lily petals at the arm-ends, and is very similar to the Fleurie Cross and the Patonce Cross with liliform ends. Not only do the arm-ends represent flowers, but they also have the appearance of a barbed fighting spear. Therefore these crosses are used mainly in heraldry, especially in France.

Although lis is French for lily, the Fleur-de-lis Cross should not be confused with the Lily Cross, which is a cross emblazoned with one or more white trumpet-shaped arum lilies, used for Easter or funeral decoration.

Madonna Lily

The Lily in Christian art is a well known symbol of chastity, innocence and purity. It began appearing in religious art of Annunciation scenes in the late 14th century. (The Archangel Gabriel and Mary are sometimes shown holding a Lily.) Fleur-de-lis patterns are common on crosses simply labeled Medieval Cross, which often replaced the older Celtic Crosses in decorative religious art.

With its pure, immaculate white petals, it is also known as the Madonna Lily. In addition to the lily, Mary is also associated with the rose "I am the Rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys"¹ (See also Rose of Sharon Cross). After the Protestant Reformation, in an attempt to focus more on Jesus and less on His Mother, the lily and also the Rose of Sharon became popular symbols for Christ.

Another female name is Avis, associated with a Latin word meaning 'bird'. See Avis Cross.

The fleur-de-lis symbol is a stylized lily and has been a symbol of French royalty since the 11th century. Indeed, the English King Edward III incorporated the symbol on his coat of arms to emphasize his claim to the French crown. The symbol became less prominent in France after the French Revolution and was dropped by the English monarchy in 1801. It retained its image as a regal symbol, however, becoming popular in heraldry.

Another name is Gaelic Cross, although that title is more commonly used to describe the Celtic Cross. More recently, the Fleur-de-lis Cross has been adopted by the life-is-dark, neo-Goth subculture. It is known as the Gothic Cross and often worn satirically, accompanying grim black attire (see also Dracula Cross).

Both 'Lily' and 'Fleur-de-lis' sound a bit too antiquated for 'New-Age' followers, who call it the Lotus Cross.

In both the Fleur-de-lis Cross and the Fleurie Cross, the three petals represent faith, wisdom and chivalry when used in heraldry, and the Trinity when used as a Christian Cross.