e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide

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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Illinois Symbols

Illinois Symbols

American Folk Dance, Amphibian, Animal, Bird, Fish, Flag, Flower, Fossil, Insect, Language, Mineral, Motto, Nicknames, Prairie Grass, Reptile, Seal, Slogan, Snack food, Soil, Song, Theatre, Tree

Illinois State American Folk Dance

Square Dancing

Adopted in 1990.

Square dancing is a folk dancing tradition of the United States. It is recorded as early as 1651. It was adopted as the American Folk Dance of Illinois in 1990.

How did it become a state symbol?

(from Illinois Blue Book, 1993-1994)

In 1990, Gov. Thompson signed into law a bill designating the Square Dance as the American folk dance of the State.

Square dancing is the American folk dance which traces its ancestry to the English country dance and the French ballroom dance. It is called, cued, or prompted to the dancers. It includes squares, rounds, clogging, contra, line, the Virginia reel, and heritage dances. When the pioneers came west, they brought with them a dance called the quadrille, which means square in French. The pioneers liked the simpler term and so the square dance was born. The dance is known for its series of figures and footwork. Dancers are directed by a caller. It is easy to learn, a good form of exercise and fun.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.