Canton of Bern Refuses To Let Go of Bear’s Red Penis

Officials in Bern, Switzerland, have ruled that the historic coat of arms of the canton will remain unchanged following a question raised by a member of the Swiss Liberal Green Party regarding the depiction of the bear featured on the symbol, as reported by Barstool Sports.

The emblem of the Canton of Bern, which dates back at least 600 years, shows a black bear positioned diagonally on a yellow background.

The animal is traditionally depicted with red claws, a red tongue, and a red phallus — a design element rooted in long-standing heraldic traditions.

Красный пенис официально останется на гербе швейцарского Берна.

Уже более 600 лет медведь на гербе изображается исключительно с его пенисом красного цвета, но местный депутат предложил избавиться от полового органа, чтобы он никого не смущал. pic.twitter.com/d0Cphy4SDA

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The issue was raised by Liberal Green parliamentarian Thomas Brönnimann, who submitted a written question to the cantonal government asking whether the symbol should be modified.

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Brönnimann questioned whether it would be more appropriate to portray the bear without its masculine attributes, suggesting that such a change might better represent the broader population.

The cantonal government reviewed the question but ultimately declined to make any changes to the centuries-old symbol.

In its response, the government stated that the bear on the coat of arms has historically been depicted with a red phallus on official documents for generations.

Officials said that maintaining the original design reflects a longstanding tradition tied to heraldic practices.

Authorities concluded that continuing to depict the bear in the same manner was reasonable given the historical precedent.

The government also rejected the idea of conducting a public online survey about the future appearance of the symbol.

Officials said such a poll would likely not provide representative results and would offer little meaningful value in deciding the matter.

As a result, the traditional design of the coat of arms will remain unchanged. The government also confirmed that the direction in which the bear faces will remain the same as in the historic version of the emblem.

The bear symbol has been associated with the region of Bern for centuries and is widely used across official materials and regional imagery.

Heraldic historians note that depictions of animals in European coats of arms often included visible anatomical details, particularly in medieval designs.

These elements were commonly used to symbolize strength, masculinity, and authority within heraldry traditions dating back to the 15th century.

The flag of the Canton of Bern continues to display the traditional black bear with red features as part of the official emblem of the Swiss canton.

The issue gained attention after discussion surrounding Brönnimann’s question circulated publicly, prompting renewed interest in the historical design of the symbol.

The canton’s ruling effectively closes the matter, with officials stating the long-established imagery will remain part of Bern’s official coat of arms.

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