Bleu, blanc, rouge

Have you ever wondered why the French flag is bleu, blanc, rouge*?

Well, you may be wondering a little longer, as it seems even the French find it difficult to trouver un accord* on the matter.

Some say the white is the colour of the House of Bourbon, which ruled France from the late 16th century to the French Revolution. Red and blue are the traditional colours of Paris, with revolutionaries wearing red and blue cockades on their hats when they stormed the Bastille in 1789.

Other suggest the three colours represent la liberté*, l'égalité* and la fraternité*, the French motto.

For some, it's bleu for la bourgeoisie*, blanc for la monarchie* and rouge for la révolution*.

A more romantique* take has the colours drawing inspiration from flowers: blue for cornflowers, white for marguerites and red for poppies.

Plus compliqué* than we might have thought art first, non?*?

*blue, white, red | *to come to an agreement | *freedom | *equality | *brotherhood | *the bourgeoisie | *the monarchy | *the revolution | *romantic | *More complicated | *isn't it?