(Image- La Sexta)
“El Oso y el Madroño” in English translates to “The Bear and the Strawberry Tree“. It is the official symbol of Madrid, represented by a bronze statue in the Puerta del Sol. The statue depicts a bear standing on its hind legs, reaching for the fruit of a strawberry tree.
The bear and strawberry tree symbol has been part of Madrid’s coat of arms since at least the 13th century. There are a few theories about the origin of the symbol, including the idea that there were many bears in the surrounding forests and that the strawberry tree was a common sight. We’ll also talk about that and the curious new tradition of touching the bear’s tail for good luck. A custom that means nothing to locals and world to visitors!
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