The
state of South Carolina has many official state symbols, holidays and designations and they have been selected to represent the history, resources, and possibilities of the state. The palmetto and crescent of the state flag is South Carolina's best-known symbol. It is seen on shirts and
bumperstickers and is often adapted throughout the state to show support for collegiate teams or interest in particular sports activities.
The state has several symbols that represent its
sovereignty and from where it was gained.[1] The
state House of Representatives has used a
ceremonial mace since 1880. When the House is in session, the mace is placed in a specially designed rack in front of the Speaker of the House. The
state Senate uses a
sword of state. The current sword of state was a gift from
Lord Halifax, a former British ambassador to the United States, and has been in use since 1951. The original sword of state was obtained in 1704 and used by the
governor of the
South Carolina Colony. The
state flag originated to represent the militia that fought for independence in 1776. The
Seal of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. The seals of the Senate and House incorporate the sword of state and the mace respectively.
State amphibian:
spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – The spotted salamander is the only amphibian indigenous to the whole state and was nominated by a third grade class from Woodlands Heights Elementary School, Spartanburg, as the state amphibian. (1999)
State animal:
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) – Every county in South Carolina features an open season on deer. (1972)
State beverage:
milk – Milk was selected as the official beverage of the state because of its dietary value and since dairy farms are found in 39 of 46 counties. The dairy industry in South Carolina generates $200 million in economic activity.[4] (1984)
State hospitality beverage:
tea (Camellia sinensis) – The first place that tea was grown in the United States was in South Carolina in 1799. It continues to be grown at the
Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island.
State bird:
Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – The
mockingbird was designated the state bird from 1939 until 1948, when the wren received the designation. The wren was chosen as the state bird because its song can be heard all year long. (1948)
State wild game bird:
wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) – Hunted during a spring season, wild turkeys are found throughout the state. (1976)
State duck:
wood duck (Aix sponsa) – The wood duck is also known as the summer duck and the Carolina duck. (2009)
State butterfly:
eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) – English artist Mark Catesby painted the first picture of this butterfly in South Carolina in 1725. (1994)
State craft: sweetgrass
basket weaving – Sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia sericea), being native to the coastal dunes of the Carolinas, provided the perfect material for African slaves to utilize their traditional skills and produce a tightly-woven coiled basket. This
handcraft has been passed down through generations and a high concentration of basket weavers is still found near
Mount Pleasant. To this day, the form of the sweetgrass baskets woven in South Carolina closely resemble their African counterparts.[6]
State dog:
Boykin Spaniel – The Boykin Spaniel was first bred in South Carolina near Camden, SC. It is a small dog with an often brown, curly coat and golden eyes. It was bred primarily for waterfowl hunting. The breed's popularity outside of the state is rising. The dog is known for its jovial personality and energy. It is also known as the "swamp poodle" and "the little brown dog."
State grass:
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – The
General Assembly wrote that Indian grass is "a native, nonnoxious plant, with a historical, continuing, widespread, and beneficial existence in South Carolina."[8] (2001)
State flower:
yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) – The return of yellow jessamine each spring is thought to suggest the lesson of "constancy in, loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State." It is very common and seen throughout the state.
State wildflower:
goldenrod (Solidago altissima) – With a long bloom time and long lasting flowers, goldenrod was selected as the "official state wildflower".
State fruit:
peach (Prunus persica) – South Carolina is the second largest producer of peaches, behind California and ahead of Georgia (the Peach State).[10] (1984)
State gemstone:
amethyst – South Carolina is one of a few U.S. states where good quality amethyst gems can be found. (1969)
State heritage horse:
Carolina Marsh Tacky – "The Marsh Tacky, a rare colonial Spanish horse breed unique to South Carolina, has played a significant role in South Carolina's history. After abandonment by the Spanish on the South Carolina Sea Islands and along the South Carolina coast some five hundred years ago, the Marsh Tacky survived on its own and developed into a unique strain of colonial Spanish horse."[11] (2010)
State insect:
Carolina mantid (Stagmomantis carolina) – One reason that the Carolina mantid was selected as the state insect is for its use in agriculture in managing harmful insects. (1988)
State marine mammal:
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – Both the state marine mammal and state migratory marine mammal were designated by
Act Number 58 of 2009 (2009)
State migratory marine mammal:
northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) – The right whale can be found off the South Carolina coast during the breeding and calving season. (2009)
Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope) – It appears on one of the state's license plates.
Animis opibusque parati (Ready in soul and resource) – Both state mottos are shown on the state seal which depicts the defeat of the British on
Sullivan's Island in 1776. (1777)
State music:
spiritual – Spirituals are songs that originated in the oral traditions of African-American slaves. "
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is one of the best known examples. Spirituals were first written down on
St. Helena Island during the Civil War. (1999)
State pecan festival: The South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence County. (2011)
State popular music:
beach music – Beach music is closely associated with the state dance, the shag, and is also considered to have originated in Myrtle Beach. (2001)
State shell:
lettered olive (Oliva sayana) – The lettered olive was found and named by a South Carolinian, Dr. Edmund Ravenel of
Charleston. (1984)
State snack:
boiled peanuts – Boiled peanuts are a popular snack food in the
Southern U.S. School districts are neither encouraged nor required "to serve peanuts to students, especially students with food allergies."[12]
State spider:
Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) – The state spider was the idea of a third grade student as a way for other students to learn more about this native spider. (2000)
State stone: blue
granite – Many buildings throughout the state have been constructed with blue granite mined here. (1969)
State tartan: The
Carolina tartan – The Carolina Tartan recognizes the heritage of Scottish settlers in South Carolina, who began immigrating here in the late seventeenth century. (2002)
State tapestry: "From the Mountains to the Sea" – The state tapestry, on display at the South Carolina Cotton Museum, depicts scenes of the state on a cotton fabric fifty-four inches wide by seventy-two inches long. (2000)
State tree:
sabal palmetto (Sabal palmetto) – The palmetto has been a symbol for South Carolina since the
American Revolutionary War when it was used to build a fort on Sullivan's Island that withstood British attack. The palmetto tree appears on the first symbol of the state, the seal created in 1777. It was officially named the state tree in 1939. (1939). It is a very popular state symbol .
State vegetable:
collard – At the time of adoption, South Carolina ranked second in United States collard production.[13] (2011)
List of state holidays and observances
Holidays for South Carolina (when state government offices are closed) include[14]
Purple Heart Day is the third Saturday in February to honor the
Purple Heart medal and the men and women awarded it.
March 18,
John C. Calhoun's birthday is
South Carolina Day when the history, resources and possibilities of the state are to be taught in schools.
The last week in April in each year is designated as
Golf Week. It commemorates the economic impact of the
golf industry, the importance of the state's junior golfers and the importance of
turfgrass research.
Garden Week is the week beginning the first Sunday of June.
The last week in August is
Family Week. The South Carolina Family of the Year is awarded during this week.
September 11 is a State Day of Remembrance for the victims of the tragic events of the
September 11, 2001 attacks, and for the firefighters, law enforcement, National Guard, emergency service personnel, and 911 telecommunicators who risk their lives and contribute every day to ensure the safety of the state's citizens.
October 11 is set as
General Pulaski Memorial Day to commemorate the date of
Casimir Pulaski's death and remember his service in South Carolina during the American Revolution.
The week which includes November 11, Veterans Day, is designated as Patriotism Week to recognize contributions made by military veterans to American society, to honor the supreme sacrifices made in defending the freedoms and protections afforded by the
United States Constitution, and to memorialize those who lost their lives in military service.
The first Friday of December of each year is
Arbor Day in this state, encouraged to be observed by the planting of trees on school property.
December 15, the anniversary of the ratification of the
Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, is
Bill of Rights Day in South Carolina to recognize the meaning and importance of each of the ten constitutional amendments.
List of additional state designations
The pledge to the flag of South Carolina is "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."
^
abSouth Carolina General Assembly (2007). Charles F. Reid (ed.). 2007 South Carolina Legislative Manual (88th ed.). Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina General Assembly.
The
state of South Carolina has many official state symbols, holidays and designations and they have been selected to represent the history, resources, and possibilities of the state. The palmetto and crescent of the state flag is South Carolina's best-known symbol. It is seen on shirts and
bumperstickers and is often adapted throughout the state to show support for collegiate teams or interest in particular sports activities.
The state has several symbols that represent its
sovereignty and from where it was gained.[1] The
state House of Representatives has used a
ceremonial mace since 1880. When the House is in session, the mace is placed in a specially designed rack in front of the Speaker of the House. The
state Senate uses a
sword of state. The current sword of state was a gift from
Lord Halifax, a former British ambassador to the United States, and has been in use since 1951. The original sword of state was obtained in 1704 and used by the
governor of the
South Carolina Colony. The
state flag originated to represent the militia that fought for independence in 1776. The
Seal of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. The seals of the Senate and House incorporate the sword of state and the mace respectively.
State amphibian:
spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – The spotted salamander is the only amphibian indigenous to the whole state and was nominated by a third grade class from Woodlands Heights Elementary School, Spartanburg, as the state amphibian. (1999)
State animal:
white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) – Every county in South Carolina features an open season on deer. (1972)
State beverage:
milk – Milk was selected as the official beverage of the state because of its dietary value and since dairy farms are found in 39 of 46 counties. The dairy industry in South Carolina generates $200 million in economic activity.[4] (1984)
State hospitality beverage:
tea (Camellia sinensis) – The first place that tea was grown in the United States was in South Carolina in 1799. It continues to be grown at the
Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island.
State bird:
Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – The
mockingbird was designated the state bird from 1939 until 1948, when the wren received the designation. The wren was chosen as the state bird because its song can be heard all year long. (1948)
State wild game bird:
wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) – Hunted during a spring season, wild turkeys are found throughout the state. (1976)
State duck:
wood duck (Aix sponsa) – The wood duck is also known as the summer duck and the Carolina duck. (2009)
State butterfly:
eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) – English artist Mark Catesby painted the first picture of this butterfly in South Carolina in 1725. (1994)
State craft: sweetgrass
basket weaving – Sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia sericea), being native to the coastal dunes of the Carolinas, provided the perfect material for African slaves to utilize their traditional skills and produce a tightly-woven coiled basket. This
handcraft has been passed down through generations and a high concentration of basket weavers is still found near
Mount Pleasant. To this day, the form of the sweetgrass baskets woven in South Carolina closely resemble their African counterparts.[6]
State dog:
Boykin Spaniel – The Boykin Spaniel was first bred in South Carolina near Camden, SC. It is a small dog with an often brown, curly coat and golden eyes. It was bred primarily for waterfowl hunting. The breed's popularity outside of the state is rising. The dog is known for its jovial personality and energy. It is also known as the "swamp poodle" and "the little brown dog."
State grass:
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – The
General Assembly wrote that Indian grass is "a native, nonnoxious plant, with a historical, continuing, widespread, and beneficial existence in South Carolina."[8] (2001)
State flower:
yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) – The return of yellow jessamine each spring is thought to suggest the lesson of "constancy in, loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State." It is very common and seen throughout the state.
State wildflower:
goldenrod (Solidago altissima) – With a long bloom time and long lasting flowers, goldenrod was selected as the "official state wildflower".
State fruit:
peach (Prunus persica) – South Carolina is the second largest producer of peaches, behind California and ahead of Georgia (the Peach State).[10] (1984)
State gemstone:
amethyst – South Carolina is one of a few U.S. states where good quality amethyst gems can be found. (1969)
State heritage horse:
Carolina Marsh Tacky – "The Marsh Tacky, a rare colonial Spanish horse breed unique to South Carolina, has played a significant role in South Carolina's history. After abandonment by the Spanish on the South Carolina Sea Islands and along the South Carolina coast some five hundred years ago, the Marsh Tacky survived on its own and developed into a unique strain of colonial Spanish horse."[11] (2010)
State insect:
Carolina mantid (Stagmomantis carolina) – One reason that the Carolina mantid was selected as the state insect is for its use in agriculture in managing harmful insects. (1988)
State marine mammal:
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – Both the state marine mammal and state migratory marine mammal were designated by
Act Number 58 of 2009 (2009)
State migratory marine mammal:
northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) – The right whale can be found off the South Carolina coast during the breeding and calving season. (2009)
Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope) – It appears on one of the state's license plates.
Animis opibusque parati (Ready in soul and resource) – Both state mottos are shown on the state seal which depicts the defeat of the British on
Sullivan's Island in 1776. (1777)
State music:
spiritual – Spirituals are songs that originated in the oral traditions of African-American slaves. "
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is one of the best known examples. Spirituals were first written down on
St. Helena Island during the Civil War. (1999)
State pecan festival: The South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence County. (2011)
State popular music:
beach music – Beach music is closely associated with the state dance, the shag, and is also considered to have originated in Myrtle Beach. (2001)
State shell:
lettered olive (Oliva sayana) – The lettered olive was found and named by a South Carolinian, Dr. Edmund Ravenel of
Charleston. (1984)
State snack:
boiled peanuts – Boiled peanuts are a popular snack food in the
Southern U.S. School districts are neither encouraged nor required "to serve peanuts to students, especially students with food allergies."[12]
State spider:
Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis) – The state spider was the idea of a third grade student as a way for other students to learn more about this native spider. (2000)
State stone: blue
granite – Many buildings throughout the state have been constructed with blue granite mined here. (1969)
State tartan: The
Carolina tartan – The Carolina Tartan recognizes the heritage of Scottish settlers in South Carolina, who began immigrating here in the late seventeenth century. (2002)
State tapestry: "From the Mountains to the Sea" – The state tapestry, on display at the South Carolina Cotton Museum, depicts scenes of the state on a cotton fabric fifty-four inches wide by seventy-two inches long. (2000)
State tree:
sabal palmetto (Sabal palmetto) – The palmetto has been a symbol for South Carolina since the
American Revolutionary War when it was used to build a fort on Sullivan's Island that withstood British attack. The palmetto tree appears on the first symbol of the state, the seal created in 1777. It was officially named the state tree in 1939. (1939). It is a very popular state symbol .
State vegetable:
collard – At the time of adoption, South Carolina ranked second in United States collard production.[13] (2011)
List of state holidays and observances
Holidays for South Carolina (when state government offices are closed) include[14]
Purple Heart Day is the third Saturday in February to honor the
Purple Heart medal and the men and women awarded it.
March 18,
John C. Calhoun's birthday is
South Carolina Day when the history, resources and possibilities of the state are to be taught in schools.
The last week in April in each year is designated as
Golf Week. It commemorates the economic impact of the
golf industry, the importance of the state's junior golfers and the importance of
turfgrass research.
Garden Week is the week beginning the first Sunday of June.
The last week in August is
Family Week. The South Carolina Family of the Year is awarded during this week.
September 11 is a State Day of Remembrance for the victims of the tragic events of the
September 11, 2001 attacks, and for the firefighters, law enforcement, National Guard, emergency service personnel, and 911 telecommunicators who risk their lives and contribute every day to ensure the safety of the state's citizens.
October 11 is set as
General Pulaski Memorial Day to commemorate the date of
Casimir Pulaski's death and remember his service in South Carolina during the American Revolution.
The week which includes November 11, Veterans Day, is designated as Patriotism Week to recognize contributions made by military veterans to American society, to honor the supreme sacrifices made in defending the freedoms and protections afforded by the
United States Constitution, and to memorialize those who lost their lives in military service.
The first Friday of December of each year is
Arbor Day in this state, encouraged to be observed by the planting of trees on school property.
December 15, the anniversary of the ratification of the
Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, is
Bill of Rights Day in South Carolina to recognize the meaning and importance of each of the ten constitutional amendments.
List of additional state designations
The pledge to the flag of South Carolina is "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."
^
abSouth Carolina General Assembly (2007). Charles F. Reid (ed.). 2007 South Carolina Legislative Manual (88th ed.). Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina General Assembly.