Merlin Classics Releases Bear Flag Holiday Ornament
A commemorative crystal ornament marks the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, with sales proceeds supporting hunger relief.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Civic
Merlin Classics, a volunteer-run company based in Connecticut, has released a holiday ornament depicting the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846. The 3-inch faceted crystal glass round features the Bear Flag, and profits from sales will support hunger relief.
Why it matters
The ornament ties a holiday keepsake to a foundational episode in California history, when settlers seized Sonoma and declared an independent republic amid tensions between Mexico and the United States over control of the territory. The Bear Flag later became the basis of California's state flag when the state joined the Union in 1850.
The ornament is a 3-inch faceted crystal glass round printed with the Bear Flag, produced by a volunteer-run company. The sales total and the amount of hunger-relief funding generated have not been reported.
The players
Merlin Classics
A volunteer-run company based in Connecticut that produces commemorative holiday ornaments and is releasing this Bear Flag piece with proceeds directed to hunger relief.
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
The Mexican military commander in Sonoma who was arrested by American settlers during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, an event that helped set the stage for California's conquest by the United States.
The details
The Bear Flag Revolt began June 14, 1846, when 33 American settlers marched into Sonoma, arrested Mexican military commander Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, and declared the California Republic. The settlers raised a makeshift flag over Sonoma Plaza featuring a grizzly bear, a single red star and a red stripe, a design reportedly made from cotton cloth and red paint and credited to William Todd.
Timeline
June 14, 1846: The Bear Flag Revolt began with settlers seizing Sonoma.
July 9, 1846: U.S. forces raised the American flag over Sonoma.
1850: California joined the Union, and the Bear Flag became the basis of the state flag.
1906: The original Bear Flag was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire.
November 4, 2026: The commemorative ornament was released.
Legal Context
The Bear Flag Revolt, which began June 14, 1846, is the origin point of the Bear Flag design that eventually became California's state flag after statehood in 1850. This ornament revisits that 1846 event through a modern commemorative product.
The ornament is sold as a physical holiday product from Merlin Classics, making it available to collectors and gift-givers who want a piece of California history. Purchasers support hunger relief through their purchase, according to the release.
The takeaway
A small holiday object can connect everyday shoppers to a pivotal 1846 moment in California history. Buyers of the ornament also contribute to hunger relief.
Further reading
For more on the state's founding history, explore Civic coverage on California.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sonoma Index-Tribune.
