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South Carolina
needed a national flag after it seceded from the Union on December 20,
1860. The General Assembly considered many designs, but on January 28,
1861, almost one hundred years after Moultrie’s original design, they
voted to add a palmetto tree, officially creating the flag we know
today. The palmetto tree was added to represent Moultrie’s defense of
the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan’s Island. The fort held against
British attack on June 28, 1776. While history
offers this account of the South Carolina flag’s design, these symbols
are much older than the young state. Symbolically, t Trees are repeatedly mentioned in
ancient spiritual texts. Stories of the Tree of Life and the Tree of
Knowledge of Good and Evil, the burning bush that appeared to Moses, the
grove of olive trees where Jesus went to pray, and Buddha receiving his
illuminations while sitting under the bodhi tree are just a few. Many of the eastern gods are depicted sitting under the branches of
mighty trees. In ancient
symbolism, the palmetto tree, or any tree that bears milk-filled nuts,
represents the positive regenerative energy and is a phallic symbol of
male fertility. The waxing crescent moon of the flag is associated with
the young maiden goddess, the virgin of the hunt and represents new
beginnings, spontaneity and instinctual action. Unfolding on our state
flag is a sexual tension, a male/female connection, the most creative
force in the universe, a union that gives new rise to the meaning
“coming together under one flag.” Forever let us wave our banner high… © 2002 Wendy Brinker |
