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Typically Spanish - Spanish Oddities

What is the sex of the Madrid bear?
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By h.b. - Jun 18, 2007 - 8:17 AM
The Madrid Coat of Arms
The Madrid Coat of Arms
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The Madrid Coat of Arms has a bear climbing up an orange tree, and the Mayor wants to know the sex of the bear

A controversy has broken out over the sex of the Coat of Arms for the City of Madrid. The Coat of Arms consists of a bear looking up an orange tree.

The Director of the Matirtense Heraldic and Geneology Royal Academy, Faustino Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, told El Mundo that that they are not veterinarians, and therefore cannot decide the sex of the bear.

His comments came after the Mayor of the City, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, asked him to rule on the question. He did admit however that the tradition in the 16th century was to describe the beast as Osa, making it feminine, but there was no formal evidence.


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Readers' comments:
typicallyspanish newsteam
18 Jun 2007, 14:28
CORRECTION - It's not an Orange tree - it's a Madroño, or Strawberry Tree
Please keep to the subject. Opinions published here are of our visitors, not the Typically Spanish team. Comments which go against Spanish laws or which are libellous are not allowed. We reserve the right to delete any comment we wish.

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