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The Maltese cross is known around the world as a symbol of the fire service. It is often seen painted on fire trucks, on the clothing of firefighters, depicted on firefighter's badges, and is quite often the chosen design of firefighter tattoos. So where did the Maltese cross come from, and how did it get to be known as a symbol of the fire service? The Maltese cross is named after the island of Malta, which came to be the home of the Knights of St. John. The Knights of St. John existed during the 11th and 12 centuries. The armor worn by the Knights covered their entire bodies as well as their faces. Because of this it was often difficult for the knights to recognize one another during battle. They realized they would need some type of symbol that could be used to quickly and easily identify them selves. They chose the Cross of Calvary, which would later be known as the Maltese cross. During the Crusades, the enemies of the nights commonly used fire as a weapon. It was quite common for a Knight to have to risk his own life to save another Knight or extinguish a fire. The Knights of St. John were also known for their care of the sick and injured. Combined with their abilities to fight fires, and the pride and honor they took in their work, the Maltese cross seems a fitting symbol of the modern fire service. Firefighting is a proud profession, and only a symbol of pride would exemplify the work of a firefighter.

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Q: Where did the Maltese cross come from?
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Who had a regimental cap badge similar to a Maltese cross?

Answer There are several British Regimental Cap Badges that are shaped like a Maltese Cross over the years. This shape was common for Rifle regiments and I have three types in my collection: King's Royal Rifle Corps. The Sherwood Forestes had a Maltese Cross with a reclining deer in the center(no wreath). In the current British Army, this badge would be worn by the Royal Green Jackets. Its badge is a Maltese Cross within a Wreath. Link: wikipedia for Royal Green Jackets http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Green_Jackets


Why was the blue Maltese Cross and Crown chosen for the Queensland emlbem?

No-one really knows.


What is the meaning of a Maltese cross?

The Maltese cross is identified as the symbol of the Christian warrior. The cross is eight-pointed and has the shape of four "V" shaped arms joined together at their bases, so that each arm has two points. Its design is based on crosses used since the First Crusade. The eight points symbolise the chivalric virtues; * Loyalty * Piety * Frankness * Braveness * Glory and honour * Contempt of death * Helpfulness towards the poor and the sick * Respect for the church The Maltese cross remains the symbol of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and other Orders of St John. In recent centuries it has come to be adopted as the insignia of numerous orders of chivalry, and appears on the coat-of-arms of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz district. In Australia the Maltese Cross is the state emblem of Queensland. In Great Britain the first postmark employed for the cancellation of the then new postage stamps in the 1840s was the shape of a Maltese cross and named accordingly. The Maltese cross also forms the basis for the design of the Order of the Bath. The Maltese cross is also the symbol of Neath Rugby Football Club in Neath, Wales. At King George V's funeral procession, as the funeral cortege turned into New Palace Yard, the Maltese cross (really a cross patt�e) fell from the Crown and landed in the gutter. This was viewed as a bad omen for the next King, Edward VIII, who would abdicate before the year was out. The Maltese cross flower (Lychnis chalcedonica) was named after the Maltese cross because its petals are similarly shaped, though its points are more rounded into "heart"-like shapes. The Geneva drive, a gear that translates a continuous rotation into an intermittent rotary motion, is also sometimes called a "Maltese cross mechanism" due to its similar shape. Similar crosses are used as the symbol of some Fire Services in the United States, and are often referred to as a Maltese cross, although this is not technically correct as the shape of these crosses differ. Other similar crosses (properly known as the cross patt�e) appear as the Victoria Cross and on the flag of Wallis and Futuna. It also has been used (with an elliptical orb in the center) as the official badge of the Delta Phi fraternity since 1833. The official symbol of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity is the heraldic cross pattee, though the organization's founder thought it was a Maltese cross when the organization was formed in 1865. It is considered as one of the National Symbols of Malta and used to be depicted on the two mils coin of the island prior to the removal of the currency from circulation. The eight points of the Maltese cross symbolise the eight beatitudes of Christ's Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5.3-10): The poor in spirit, They who mourn, They who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, The meek, The peacemakers, They who hunger and thirst for righteousness, The pure in heart, The merciful The Maltese Cross is also interpreted as a symbol of the eight chivalric virtues: Observation, Tact, Resource, Dexterity, Sympathy, Perseverance, Discrimination, Explicitness Another theory considers the eight points of the Maltese Cross a symbol for the eight langues of the Order of Malta: Provence, Auvergne, France, Aragon, Italy, Germany, England, Castilia


Was my family in the Knights Templar if the Red Maltese Cross is on my family crest?

Sorry, but there is no such thing as a Family Coat of Arms.


Where did the Swastika name come from?

Hakenkreutz Crooked cross

Related questions

Is the Maltese cross satanic?

The Maltese cross is not satanic.


How do you make a Maltese cross with 1 match?

Poking the Maltese in the eye with the match will make him very cross.


Where can you buy Maltese cross flag?

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What does a firefighters cross look like?

a firefighters cross is nothing more than a Maltese Cross.


What can you cross breed a Maltese with?

anything toy breed


Is 917 stamped on a Maltese cross 22 krt white gold?

No - it's 917 grade Maltese silver.


The cross of bogart's falcon?

Maltese Cross .....look for a Cross figure made of 4 jagged edge triangles


Why did Baron Manfred von Richthofen choose the Maltese cross?

He didn't choose it. The Maltese Cross (also called the Iron Cross) was the official symbol of the German military since around 1871, although versions of the cross date back far earlier.


What is Maltese like?

It's best to cross with a breed that is similar in size and stature to the Maltese. For example, a toy or miniature poodle could be cross bred and would look cute.


Maltese and poodle cross dog and she is not supose to shed but she does why is this?

all dogs shed hair but in a poodle it has too be groomed out but the crossing of the two breed may cause it to come out by itself as many breeds of dogs do also the Maltese is a shedder of hair naturally


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$250.00


What is Saint Florian's symbol?

Saint Florian's symbol is typically a depiction of a burning building with a bucket of water, symbolizing his patronage of firefighters and protection against fires.