National flag

A national flag is a flag that stands for a nation. It is flown by the government of that country, but people often show it too. Each flag has its own design, with colors and pictures that mean something about the country's past and what it values.

Johnson's new chart of national emblems, published c. 1868. The large flags shown in the corners are the 37-star flag of the United States (flown 1867–1890), upper left; the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom, upper, right; the Russian Imperial Standard, lower left; and the French tricolore with inset Imperial Eagle, lower right. Various other flags flown by ships are shown. The Flag of Cuba is labelled "Cuban (so called)". The Chinese dragon on the Flag of China was drawn mistakenly as a welsh dragon.

National flags are a strong sign of togetherness and who people are in the same country. You can see them on big days, like holidays, sports games, and important events. When people see their nation's flag, it often makes them feel proud and like they belong together.

Sometimes, a country's flag changes after big moments, like when it becomes free or makes new friends. These changes show how the story and feeling of the nation is growing. Whether it is on a big building or in a child's hand at school, a national flag is more than just cloth and paint—it shows the shared spirit and history of all the people in that nation.

History

The first Italian flag brought to Florence by Francesco Saverio Altamura (1859)

Flags started as signs used in battles long ago. Early examples are the white banners of the Zhou dynasty and the vexillum of the Roman Empire. Over time, flags began to stand for whole countries.

The flag of the Netherlands grew from a design made in the 1500s. In the 1600s, the Union Jack was made to show the joining of England and Scotland. By the late 1700s, flags like the US flag and the French Tricolor became important symbols for their countries. Many more countries made their own flags in the 1800s and 1900s.

Process of adoption

The national flag of a country is often mentioned in its constitution. The exact design might be in a special law or decree. For example, Germany's Basic Law mentions the colors of its flag, but the exact size and shape were decided later by the government. The flag of the United States isn't defined in the constitution but in a special resolution from 1777.

Sometimes, a country's flag changes when its government changes, especially after big events. The flag of Germany has changed many times, reflecting different governments from the German Empire to the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Similarly, the flag of Libya was changed after a coup in 1969 and again after the Libyan Civil War in 2011. These changes often show the political ideas and history of the country.

Usage

There are three main types of national flags used on land and three used at sea, though many countries use the same design for several types. On land, civil flags can be used by anyone, state flags are used by government agencies, and war flags are used by military groups. For example, the United States and the United Kingdom use the same flag for all three purposes, while countries in Latin America often have different designs for civil and state flags.

At sea, flags used to show a ship's nationality are called ensigns. There are civil ensigns for private ships, state ensigns for government ships, and war ensigns for naval ships. Some countries, like the United States and Canada, use the same design for their national flag and civil ensign, while others, like the United Kingdom, have special ensigns for different types of ships.

Protocol

The world's sixth tallest flagpole flying a 270 kg (595 lb) Flag of North Korea. It is 160 m (525 ft) in height, over Kijŏng-dong ("Peace village") near Panmunjom, the border of North Korea and South Korea.

Main article: Flag protocol

There are specific rules for displaying national flags properly. When shown with other flags, the national flag should be raised first and lowered last. All flags shown together should be about the same size and height, with the host country's flag in the position of honor. Flags like those of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan are designed to read correctly when wrapped left to right. A national flag shown upside down usually means distress or protest, but this is a tradition and not an official signal.

Hanging a flag vertically

Some countries have special ways to hang flags vertically. For example, Canada, Czech Republic, and the United States have specific protocols, while others like Austria and Mexico have special designs for vertical display.

Design

The art and practice of designing flags is known as vexillography. Most national flags are rectangular, but the flag of Nepal is different. The ratios of height to width vary, but no flag is taller than it is wide except for Nepal's. The flags of Switzerland and the Vatican City are exact squares.

National flags often have different colors and symbols. All national flags have at least two different colors, often in horizontal or vertical bands. Many flags include national symbols like coats of arms.

The most common colors in national flags are red, white, green, dark blue, yellow, light blue, and black. Jamaica's flag is special because it does not include red, white, or blue. Many countries have flags that look very similar. For example, the flags of Monaco and Indonesia are almost the same, with only small differences. Other pairs, like the flags of Romania and Chad, also look very similar.

Some flags share colors and patterns because of shared history. Many Slavic countries use blue, white, and red. African nations often use red, yellow, and green, known as the Pan-African colours. These similarities can sometimes cause confusion.