What are the qualifications for a flag to be called a flag? It’s when a piece of fabric features a design or emblem. Most flags in the world are rectangular, with the exceptions of Vatican City and Switzerland, both of which are square.
The first American flag was made in June 1776 by Betsy Ross, a seamstress of President George Washington. The colors signify valor and hardiness (red), innocence and purity (white), and perseverance, vigilance, and justice (blue).
The original nylon American flag planted on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission only cost $5.50. While lunar shots indicate that the flag still stands, experts believe that heat and radiation have erased the design by now.
Adopted in August 2017, the youngest flag in the world belongs to Mauritania. Their original flag featured a gold star and crescent in the middle of a green backdrop, which was changed to include a red stripe at the top and bottom.
When forced to compete for Britain instead of Ireland in 1906, Olympic silver medalist Peter O’ Connor climbed a 20-foot flag pole and waved the Irish flag in protest while the British national anthem was being played.
Athletic competitions are great opportunities for using flags to spread your corporate image. They can be used as hole markers for golf tournaments, sideline flags for field sports, and to identify starting and finishing lines.
When a flag is raised only midway across the pole, it’s often seen as a sign of distress or mourning. Some say the practice began in the 17th century to make room for an invisible “flag of death” above.
Romania and Chad are countries with flags that resemble each other very closely, with their almost identical blue, yellow, and red vertical stripes. You could only tell the flags apart by observing the slight differences in shades.
Throughout history, the flags of many countries have changed several times depending on their rulers. For instance, Afghanistan’s flag has undergone 25 different revisions. America’s flag, on the other hand, has gone through 27 total revisions.
If you are flying multiple flags on the same pole, the national flag is always at the top, the state flag flies just below it, and your company or corporate flag flies below that. Also, the national flag must be one size larger than the other flags.
Did you know that there are only nine nations in the world that don’t have any red or blue colors in their flags? These countries are Niger, Nigeria, Jamaica, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, and Ireland.
Only formed in 1971, the United Arab Emirates is a relatively young country. Interestingly, its national flag was designed by a then 19-year-old, who received 4,000 riyals as a reward.
Adopted in 1969, the Bhutan flag features a white Thunder Dragon amid two diagonal halves of yellow and orange in the background. Bhutan is the only country to not have any blue, red, or green in its flag.
The only US state that has a two-sided flag is Oregon. The front side features the state seal while the backside features the state animal – the beaver. Before 1971, Massachusetts also had a two-sided flag.
The only state flag that is not rectangular in shape is Ohio’s. It sports a swallowtail shape with a red, white, and blue combination that symbolizes the state’s admission into the Union.
Pan-Arabism is the ideology that promotes unity among Arab nations. Red, green, black, and white are considered pan-Arab colors and are often seen in the flags of most Arab countries.
While many countries in the world have minimalistic flags, there are those that have more intricate and colorful designs. Belize, for instance, has the most colorful flag in the world, having 12 hues. The flag was adopted on its independence in 1981.
In 1920, the first Olympic flag mysteriously disappeared. It wasn’t until 77 years later when 101-year-old Hal Haig Prieste, who won a medal in 1920 for platform diving, revealed the flag was in his suitcase the whole time.
Also known as “Sang Saka Merah Putih” (The Lofty Red-and-White), Indonesia’s flag consists of two horizontal bands of red and white. Almost identical to the flag of Monaco, the color combination symbolizes bravery and the human spirit.
First adopted in 1919, the tricolor horizontal bands of black, red, and gold in the German flag represent unity and freedom. Others also believe that the back and gold combination symbolizes the official coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire.
The only national flag to have a drawing of a modern rifle belongs to Mozambique. The AK-47 in this flag symbolizes vigilance and defense. The flag also features a book and a bayonet.
Did you know that Hawaii’s flag features the Union Jack? This inclusion of the UK flag signifies the state’s historical relations with the British Empire. Hawaii is the only US state to include a foreign flag in its emblem.
