Class names and insignia Since 1829, every class (
promotion) of Saint-Cyr chooses a name. It can be a nickname (
du Firmament, "of the Stars", for the first one), the name of a famous battle (
Sevastopol for the 1855–56 Class), the name of a famous soldier or general (
Bayard, 1923–25 Class,
Foch, 1928–30 Class). Since 1934, every class also chooses a special insignia.
Uniform Cadets of Saint-Cyr wear in full dress (
grand uniforme or GU) a special uniform, derived from the 1845 Regulations Infantry Officer Dress. This dress incorporates a dark-blue tunic,
red trousers (red skirts for female cadets) and a
shako with red and white plumes. Tunic
facings and trouser stripes are light blue, as is the
képi worn on less formal occasions. Red fringed epaulettes are worn by cadets and yellow by cadet-officers. This traditional uniform was worn by both cadets and instructors at Saint-Cyr from 1845 until 1914 and then again from 1930 until 1939. After World War II it was again adopted in 1949. The shako plumes are nicknamed
Casoars (
cassowaries), because they were first adopted in 1855 at the time of this colorful bird's first appearance in the
Paris Zoo. While the plumes were not at first welcomed by the cadets, they have become a symbol of Saint-Cyr. The Saint-Cyr cadets of the class of 1913–14, graduating ahead of time with the outbreak of World War I, reportedly vowed to lead their platoons in battle wearing the
casoar on their service kepis.
Ceremonies The various steps of the cadets' formation are celebrated in various ceremonies, all performed during nighttime. At the beginning of the first year, after boot camp, the cadets are welcomed with shakos granted to them by the third-year cadets. This is called the
petit soir or "small night" and is the formal recognition of the first yearers' acceptance into the Corps of Cadets. At the end of the first year, the cadets are presented with the Casoar (the red and white plumes on their shakos) and with their officers' uniform swords. This is the
grand soir or "big night". At the end of the second year, cadets are officially commissioned second lieutenants. This is celebrated in the "baptism" (
baptême) of the class, a ceremony in which every cadet receives the
accolade from a senior officer and the historical gold coloured dress uniform epaulettes of second lieutenants of their chosen specialty branches. At the end of the third and final year, the cadets are promoted to the rank of lieutenant and receive their new insignia in a ceremony called the "triumph" (
triomphe). This ceremony is also the time of solemn proclamation of the class name and is the last time the graduates wear the traditional dress uniform of the Corps of Cadets as they march out of the school's grounds one final time.
Re-enactment Using authentic battle gear and uniforms of the period, re-enactments of famous battles and ceremonies are regularly staged. The most famous of these is the
Battle of Austerlitz, which took place on 2 December 1805 and has been celebrated ever since. 2 December, nicknamed "2S" by the Saint-Cyr cadets, is the date of many Saint-Cyr related celebrations in the Army proper or among the alumni associations made up of graduates of the school. ==Admittance==