What are Mascots?

Mascots are representations of groups and organizations such as schools, sports teams and corporations. Typical examples of mascots include people, animals or objects that embody a desired character trait or symbolize the mascot's organization and purpose.

Sports

In addition to school sports teams, professional and amateur-level teams have mascots. The Philadelphia Phillies baseball team created an imaginary creature in the Phillie Phanatic.

Schools

Schools and colleges have mascots that represent their academic clubs, sports teams and entire student body. The University of Louisville mascot is the cardinal to represent Kentucky's state bird.

Politics

Political parties in the United States feature animal mascots such as the donkey for the Democratic Party and an elephant for the Republican Party.

Military

United States military units often adopt an actual dog as their mascot during war. Soldiers also rescue dogs from battlefields and help them find new families (See Reference 1).

Commercial

Corporations and consumer products might use mascots as part of their marketing plan. Auto insurance companies in the United States, such as Geico, have mascots for television advertising.

References

• Military Mascots