Popular Country Flags and How They Should be Flown
Flags, as we know it today, have evolved from a stiff symbol being carried around mostly during a battle to the flexible cloth material that sways when flown. Flags have always been used for signaling and for identification. These days certain types of flag are used everyday such as in sports and at sea.
Throughout history, the world has seen hundreds of flags with different functions, and it is still steadily growing. Thus, it is no wonder that an art of studying flags, their symbols, functions and scientific principles has been established. It is called Vexillology, and its scholars are referred to as Vexillologists.
What are country flags?
During the olden days, some sort of symbol is carried and displayed by armies fighting for their land. This is to show the opposing group who they are and what they are fighting for. Later on, every land or country created their own symbol, not only for war purposes but to identify themselves. This eventually became the country’s symbol and flag.
Along with the national anthem, the most significant symbol of a country’s freedom, honor and principles is its national flag. There are some countries that have similar-looking flags such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen whose flags are variants of the flag of the Arab revolt. Still, there are differences that set them apart from each other.
The most popular color combinations in country flags are red, white and blue for European and western nations; red, yellow and green for African nations; red, white and black for Middle Eastern or Islamic nations.
Country Flag Protocols
Because flags have been an important symbol of identity, certain protocols haven been developed in displaying them. Some of the most important protocols in displaying flags are as follows:
- National flags flown together should have the same size and the same display height.
- During national flag display, the host country occupies the place of honor which is the center for odd number of flags or the far left of the observer’s view for even number of flags.
- A country flag displayed with other flags should be hoisted first and lowered last.
- A country flag should be flown higher or in the position of honor when displayed with other flags.
- During flags in procession, that is rows consisting of a national flag with other flags, the country flag should be placed in the center or far left of observer.
- A national flag, when flown upside down, signifies distress.
Posted in Flags and Flagpoles