The premier symbols of the South are the mockingbird, magnolia, largemouth bass and flags that commemorate the Confederacy, and Mississippi boasts all four of them. After all, Mississippi and neighboring Alabama are the heart of the South.
Mississippi/Introduction is one of the four “MOAN states” (Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Nebraska) which adopted all four of the most redundant and largely senseless symbols—the introduced honeybee, milk, square dance and English (usually designated the official language).
On the other hand, Mississippi has also made some unique designations that commemorate native flora and fauna, from the wood duck to the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
Nicknames, Mottoes & Song
Mississippi shares the nickname Bayou State with neighboring Louisiana. It is also known as the Magnolia State and Mud-Cat State.
The state motto (Virtute et Armis) and song (Go, Mississippi) are relatively mediocre, as state mottoes and songs go. The motto translates “By Virtue and Arms.”
Plants
The magnolia serves as both state flower and tree. (Louisiana calls the magnolia its state flower only.)
Mississippi also followed Florida’s lead in designating flowers of the genus Coreopsis the official wildflower.
Animals
Mississippi/Introduction is one of five states (Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas) that make the mockingbird the premier symbol of the South. The wood duck was designated the official waterfowl in 1974.
Mississippi/Introduction is one of four states (Florida, Maryland, Mississippi and Oklahoma) with three official mammals. (Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin have four each.) Mississippi named both the white-tailed deer and red fox the official land mammal, while the bottlenosed dolphin was designated the official water mammal.
Mississippi adopted the alligator as its official reptile in 2005. The alligator also represents Louisiana and Florida.
Mississippi/Introduction is one of six states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee) that make the largemouth bass the most popular state fish in the South.
Mississippi/Introduction is one of sixteen states that have adopted the introduced honeybee as an official symbol, typically with the backing of the honey industry. Fortunately, Mississippi named the spicebush swallowtail its official butterfly in 1991.
The oyster shell is the official shell of both Mississippi and Virginia.
Earth Symbols
In a sense, Mississippi has two official fossils. The prehistoric whale Basilosaurus cetoides was designated the official fossil, while petrified wood was named the state stone. Alabama also adopted a prehistoric whale as its official fossil.
Miscellaneous Symbols
Fortunately, Mississippi’s miscellaneous symbols aren’t limited to the square dance, milk and English. It boasts three official museums (Automobile, Natural Science and Historical Industrial) and an official opera house.
The Teddy bear was adopted as Mississippi’s official toy in 2002. It’s a somewhat ironic designation, as the Teddy bear was more or less born in neighboring Louisiana.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - Paperback
