Talkin’ Spain: Madrid’s Oso y Madroño

“El Oso y el Madroño” in English translates to “The Bear and the Strawberry Tree“. It is the official symbol of Madrid, represented by a bronze statue in the Puerta del Sol. The statue depicts a bear standing on its hind legs, reaching for the fruit of a strawberry tree.  The bear and strawberry tree symbol has been part of Madrid’s coat of arms since at least the 13th century. There are a few theories about the origin of the symbol, including the idea that there were many bears in the surrounding forests and that the strawberry tree was a […]