Prominent Flags from Around the World & What They Mean
Flags of all kinds have the innate ability to unite people; they create allegiances in organisations and give people a sense of belonging and pride. And there’s no greater example of this in action than national flags.
Every country in the world has a symbol that has come to represent their history, values and beliefs. So, in this blog, we’re going to be exploring some prominent flags from across the globe to find out what meanings are behind them.
Canada
“Maple Leaf Flag”
It’s thought that the famous Maple Leaf symbol of Canada was used as early as the 1700s; later becoming the adopted symbol of the nation.
The two colours on the flag both have different meanings. The red represents Canadian sacrifice during world wars, and the white symbolises peace, prosperity, and harmony.
Argentina
“Bandera Oficial de Ceremonia”
The two primary colours used on the Argentinian flag are white and sky blue. The blue represents the clear skies and the hopes of a better future, whereas the white symbolises the snow of the Andes, purity, and calm.
In 1818, the yellow ‘Sun of May‘ emblem was added to the centre of the flag. This is present on both the Argentinian and Uruguayan flags and is a mainstay in popular culture to denote the dawn of a new era since it is associated with the Roman God of the Sun, Sol Invictus.
South Africa
“Van Riebeeck Flag”
The colours were chosen to feature on the South African flag to represent a new political landscape, and all have symbolic meanings taken from Boer Republics and the African National Congress flags:
- Red: bloodshed and the sacrifices made on the rocky path towards independence.
- Green: the fertility of the South African land.
- White: harmony and peace between natives and their European counterparts.
- Yellow: the mineral and natural wealth of South Africa.
- Black: the native communities that have gone before.
- Blue: blue skies and the abundance of opportunities for a new generation of South Africans.
The Y shape within the centre of the flag denotes the coming together of the remarkably diverse cultures in South Africa.
Cuba
“Bandera de Cuba”
The Cuban flag is comprised of three colours: red, white and blue, each of which was chosen with a different meaning:
- Three blue bands: these stripes represent the three military districts of colonial Cuba; central, occidental and oriental.
- Two white bands: for the purity of the patriotic cause.
- Red: symbolic of the bloodshed during the struggle for independence.
- White star: the star, La Estrella Solitaria (Lone Star), symbolises the hope of a nation upon independence.
- Triangle: equality and strength.
Iceland
“Tjúgufáni”
Upon gaining independence from the Danes in 1944, Iceland continued with the sign of the Christian religion: the cross. The red of the cross symbolises the volcanic fires of Iceland, the white represents the snow and ice, and the blue signifies the colour of the ocean and rivers of Iceland.
Jamaica
“The Cross”
The Jamaican flag uses a golden diagonal cross, better known as a saltire, which divides the flag into four sections: two black and two green, making it the only national flag in existence that doesn’t include red, white or blue.
“Hardships there are, but the land is green and the sun shineth”, was the original brief for the flag design back in 1962.
The black represents the ingenuity and creativity of the Jamaican people, the green conveys the hope of the natural resources of Jamaica, and finally, the gold symbolises wealth and the beauty of sunlight.
Australia
“Stars and Crosses”
The Union Jack in the left corner of the Australian flag is a nod to the history of British settlement and the white star known as either the “Commonwealth” or “Federation” star sits below it.
The five stars to the right of this represent the Southern Cross which reflects Australia’s unique geographical position in the southern hemisphere. The seven-pointed stars denote the federation of six states and an additional point to represent the territories.
China
“Five-Starred Red Flag”
The five-starred red flag of China is bright red with one large yellow five-point star, and four smaller five-pointed stars surrounding it.
The red background is a traditional Chinese colour and symbolises the revolution of communism, happiness and prosperity. The biggest star denotes Communist Party Leadership, and the four smaller stars stand for the four social classes:
- Working-class.
- Petty bourgeoisie.
- National bourgeoisie.
United States of America
“Stars & Stripes”
The national flag of the United States is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable flags in the world and is perhaps revered as a patriotic symbol more than any other flag in existence.
The fifty white stars represent each of the fifty states in America and the thirteen-horizontal red, and white stripes mark the founding thirteen states.
The colour of white, as in the other flags we’ve covered, stands for purity and innocence, while the red stands for courage and bravery and finally the blue denotes vigilance, perseverance and justice.
United Kingdom
“Union Jack”
We couldn’t very well do a flag roundup without the Union Jack, could we?
The British national flag is comprised of three different flags:
- St George’s Cross of England
- St Andrew’s Cross of Scotland
- St Patrick’s Cross of Ireland
As for the colour scheme, red represents bravery, courage and strength; white suggests peace and honesty and the blue: trust, loyalty and justice.
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