Swiss Canton of Bern Rejects Proposal to Change Bear Coat of Arms

The penis of the heraldic bear will remain visible on the official coat of arms of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. The cantonal council rejected all proposals to change the traditional depiction, thereby ending a public debate that had divided society for several months. The decision, made in early March 2026, means the central figure of the coat of arms – a black bear on a golden field – will continue to be depicted with a red tongue, red claws, and prominently displayed red genitalia. Controversy surrounding this element erupted in late 2025 when some politicians and residents began questioning its relevance and tastefulness. The debate was initiated by cantonal councilors from the Social Democratic Party (SP) and the Greens, who submitted an interpellation on the matter. Critics argued the depiction was outdated and could be perceived as inappropriate or even obscene in modern times. They suggested softening the representation by removing or reducing this detail, which they believed would be a gesture of adapting the symbolism to contemporary standards. However, historians, heraldry experts, and numerous traditionalists opposed the change. They emphasized that the depiction is authentic and historically faithful, not the result of later obscene manipulation. As pointed out in the debate, the bear's penis has appeared on official representations of the coat of arms for centuries. Attempts to remove it were therefore called a falsification of history and succumbing to modern prudery. „Der rote Penis? Das ist doch Geschichte. Wir können nicht einfach einen Teil unserer Geschichte auslöschen, weil er jemandem nicht gefällt.” — Nadja Pieren, councilor of the Canton of Bern (SP) The coat of arms of Bern featuring a black bear on a golden field dates back to at least the 13th century, with its earliest preserved depictions coming from city seals from 1224. The bear has always been the symbol of the city, and its name (Bern) according to legend originates from the first animal hunted by its founder, Berthold V von Zähringen, in the local forests. In European heraldry, depicting animals with naturalistic anatomical features, including genitals, was a common practice meant to emphasize strength and fertility, although in later centuries many such depictions were sterilized. The council's decision was met with predominantly positive reception in Swiss media, which covered the matter with a large dose of irony and humorous distance. Article headlines often jokingly emphasized the absurdity of the entire debate from an external observer's point of view. The issue of Bern's coat of arms fits into a broader, albeit niche, discussion in Switzerland concerning the modernization of state and cantonal symbols. In the past, similar controversies have touched other coats of arms, for example that of the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, whose emblem depicts a she-bear with cubs, or the city of Zurich, with a lion showing its tongue and claws. In each of these cases, the argument for historical continuity and fidelity to the traditional design prevailed. The decision in Bern confirms a strong conservatism in the approach to national heritage, where the value of historical authenticity outweighs contemporary trends or sensibilities. The debate, despite its local and seemingly trivial nature, revealed a deeper dispute about how society manages its symbolism and which narratives – traditional or progressive – take precedence.