ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Crosses in heraldry

Heraldry is like a big colorful picture book about important families and organizations! And in these pictures, they use a lot of different signs and symbols to show who they are and what they stand for. One of these signs is called a "cross."

A cross is a X-looking shape that people use to represent their group's values and beliefs. It's like a secret code that only people who know about your group can understand! Different crosses mean different things. Some crosses are big and bold and mean things like "we are strong and brave!" while other crosses are small and simple and might mean things like "we are peaceful and kind!"

Sometimes, crosses are put on flags or shields so that everyone can see them from far away. This way, people know who is who in battle or when they're walking down the street. And sometimes people put crosses on their clothing or even their skin! This is like wearing a badge that shows everyone which group you belong to.

So, crosses in heraldry are kind of like special codes that show what a group stands for. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and they're a really important part of telling the story of different families and organizations in history!