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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

New Hampshire Symbols

New Hampshire State Tartan

New Hampshire Tartan

Adopted in 1995.

In 1995, the state adopted an official state tartan. The colors are listed with the number of threads used to create the tartan.

History of the New Hampshire Tartan

In 1993, the idea of creating a New Hampshire Tartan for the 20th Anniversary of the New Hampshire Highland games in 1995, was initiated. Designed by handweaver, Ralf Hartwell of Newton, NH, the New Hampshire Tartan is unique in its color tones, in that special dye lots must be prepared for the coloring process.
With the review and verification of the design as original and authentic by the Tartan Educational and Cultural Association and the International Association of Tartan Studies, NH State Representative Stephen Avery arranged for Governor Stephen Merrill to proclaim the Tartan as the State Tartan of New Hampshire in June of 1994. In January of 1995, Avery introduced a bill to the NH Legislature for permanent recognition, which was passed in May, 1995.

The New Hampshire Tartan [1996]

New Hampshire Legislature Archives
3:21 State Tartan.
I. There shall be an official state tartan of New Hampshire. The sett for the New Hampshire tartan shall be as follows:
green 56; black 2; green 2; black 12; white 2; black 12; purple 2; black 2; purple 8; red 6; and purple 28.
II. The colors listed in paragraph I represent the following: purple represents the purple finch and the purple lilac, the state bird and the state flower; green represents the green of the forests; black represents the granite mountains; white represents the snow; and red represents all state heroes.
Source. 1995, 72:3, eff. July 8, 1995.

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.