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The Flag Book Preview

The Flag Book Preview

CONTENTS

What are for?...... 4 NORTH AND EUROPE Speaking in ...... 6 CENTRAL AMERICA PAGES 84-125 PAGES 12-35 Flag designs ...... 8 Coats of arms ...... 10

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA ...... 12

Pirate flags ...... 28

SOUTH AMERICA ...... 36

AFRICA ...... 46

Ships and aeroplanes ...... 54 International flag signals...... 70

EUROPE ...... 84

The world’s oldest flags ...... 94 ASIA PAGES 126-161 Semaphore flags ...... 114

ASIA ...... 126

Flag record breakers ...... 136 Flag tales ...... 154

AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA ...... 162

Sports flags...... 170 SOUTH AMERICA International flags ...... 176 PAGES 36-45 AFRICA PAGES 46-83 Glossary ...... 178 Index...... 182 AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA PAGES 162-175 FLAG DESIGNS LOOK OUT FOR… There are all kinds of interesting images on STARS sometimes represent regions of a . flags. They can reflect something special about The stars on the US There are many different reasons for a flag’s design. a country, including objects of cultural interest, plants and animals found there, or represent its flag (see page 16) Its colours and shapes may represent the history, symbolise all the history or values in a symbolic way. political ideas, landscape and people of its country. states in the country.

MYTHICAL CREATURES such as a dragon. These come from old coats of arms or ancient myths. Among others, see Micronesia (page 167), Cabo Verde (page 77) and (page 164). HISTORY OF FLAGS FLAG MANNERS Druk the Thunder RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS based on religions practised Dragon appears on Some flag designs, particularly European ones, come have rules of etiquette (manners) for in a country are sometimes used. using flags. It’s possible to offend people by breaking the of from centuries ago. They sometimes feature the coats (see page 144). of arms of aristocrats who once ruled. the rules, so you should never hang a flag upside down or treat it with disrespect. The flag of In the last 200 years, many countries have become (see page 78) is marked Also see two-headed eagles on the flags for with the crescent and independent from European colonial rule, and so have Sometimes a flag is flown at half-mast – halfway down (page 97), (page 98) and (page 99). of . needed a new flag design. Some countries, especially a pole – as a mark of mourning if something bad has in the Caribbean, ran flag design competitions for their happened or an important person has died. residents to enter. Pictures of LANDSCAPES that represent a country. As a matter of etiquette, no national flag is flown See other examples, such as Christianity for below any other at the UN. Flags may alter because of politics. New leaders (page 169), Judaism for (page 129), Hinduism for sometimes change national flags when they come The ’s national flag, known as the Union (page 143) and Buddhism for (page 142). to power. Jack, is one of the hardest to hang properly and is often hung upside down by mistake. The wide diagonal stripes HISTORICAL OBJECTS from a country. When are the key to getting it the right way up. gained independence in 1973, they changed The flag of their flag from The flag of (see page 40) (see page 49) has a one that included If the diagonal features a mountain and a river. picture of a traditional the British flag and stripe hits the top of straw hat called a the islands’ emblem. the flag on the opposite Also see overseas territories such as mokorotlo. side to the flag pole, (page 17) and St Helena (page 109). all is OK. Also see (page 58) and (page 138). ANIMALS of a country.

PLANTS of a country.

The flag of (see page 14) has The flag of (see page 32) a leaf icon. has the rare Sisserou Parrot on it.

Also see (page 59) and Also see (page 125) and Equatorial Papua New Guinea (page 166). (page 63).

8 9 CENTRALNORTH AMERICA

AND

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

USA CANADA BAHAMAS PAGE 14 PAGE 27

USA PAGE 16 PAGE 30

MEXICO PAGE 22 PAGE 30 CANADA

BELIZE ST KITTS and NEVIS PAGE 22 PAGE 31

GUATEMALA PAGE 23 PAGE 31

EL SALVADOR DOMINICA PAGE 23 PAGE 32 USA ST LUCIA PAGE 24 PAGE 32

NICARAGUA ST VINCENT PAGE 24 and THE GRENADINES PAGE 33 BAHAMAS PAGE 25 HAITI DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PAGE 34 ST KITTS AND NEVIS PAGE 25 HONDURAS ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PAGE 34 ST LUCIA DOMINICA JAMAICA ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES BARBADOS PAGE 26 COSTA RICA GRENADA PAGE 35 PANAMA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CUBA PAGE 27

12 13 CENTRALNORTH AMERICA AND

AND NORTH CENTRAL AMERICA MEXICO BELIZE GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR

ADOPTED: 1821 ADOPTED: 1981 ADOPTED: 1871 ADOPTED: 1912 RATIO: 4:7 RATIO: 2:3 RATIO: 5:8 RATIO: 3:5 USAGE: National and civil USAGE: National and USAGE: National and state USAGE: National and state DESIGN: , and red DESIGN: A large horizontal DESIGN: Blue and white vertical DESIGN: Two horizontal blue stripes vertical stripes, with Mexico City’s stripe bounded by two red borders. stripes with Guatemala’s coat of with a white stripe in the middle. in the centre, showing The coat of arms of Belize in the arms in the centre, featuring a bird The coat of arms of El Salvador in an eagle on a cactus, eating a snake. middle, showing two woodsmen called the resplendent quetzal. the centre, with the country’s and a tree. and title written around The picture in the centre Aztec mythology says the emblem. was used in Aztec times Tenochtitlán was founded A mahogany tree stands behind a Inside the triangle there are five to represent the city of where an eagle was spotted shield showing woodcutting tools The resplendent quetzal is a symbol volcanoes, representing five areas Tenochtitlán, now Mexico City. on a cactus, eating a snake. One of the woodsmen carries an axe, and a ship. Shipbuilding using of freedom. It stands on a scroll A laurel wreath The triangle on the emblem of Central America that were the other an oar. They represent mahogany was once the main marked with the date of Guatemala’s represents victory. represents equality. once politically joined. woodcutting and shipbuilding. industry of Belize. independence from .

The lake and island represent The ribbon at the bottom There are five flags hanging The motto – Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital ties an oak and a laurel branch, on wooden warrior spears of Dios, unión, libertad – built on an island in the symbolising strength and victory. Rifles represent Guatemala’s the indigenous people. means ‘God, union, liberty’. centre of Lake Texcoco. historical fight for independence, The motto – Sub umbra floreo The blue and red represent and swords represent honour. The is laden with meaning. In Aztec legend, the god Huitzilopochtil sent a sign – – means ‘I flourish in the shade’. It political parties in Belize. It celebrates a time when it was part of the United in the form of an eagle eating a snake on a cactus – refers to the lush rainforest of Belize. Provinces of Central America, which later split to mark the spot where his people should build a city. Guatemala had a history into five different countries (see page 24). Inside The city was the capital of the Aztecs, who ruled from Belize was once called of rule by the Spanish, the emblem there is a red cap on a staff. It’s a 1300 to 1521, when Mexico was British Honduras and followed by civil war. Its cap of liberty, also called a Phrygian cap, a soft conquered by the Spanish. was governed by the coat of arms represents its triangular hat that came to symbolise republican Mexico became independent UK. The circle of 50 willingness to defend itself independence in Europe. It’s based on the soft in 1822, and then adopted leaves on the flag from attack in the future and caps once worn by freed slaves in Ancient Rome, the national colours of represents the year pride in its past fight for and it’s usually red. green, red and white. 1950, when the People’s freedom. The blue stripes were United Party (PUP) was originally based on the flag of founded. The group , but also represent the Huitzilopochtli, sought independence Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean the legendary Aztec and eventually came to Sea on either side of sun and war god, was power in the country. the country. often depicted as an Phrygian caps have been worn eagle holding as snake. since ancient times. Red ones, like this, were worn during The mahogany tree is Belize’s The beautiful resplendent quetzal the French Revolution in national tree. It can grow over the 1700s. In Central America 30.5m (100 ft) tall, towering with its long tail feathers appears on Guatemala’s coins as well as its flag. they became a symbol of above the other trees around it. independence from Spain. 22 23 PIRATE FLAGS CHINESE PIRATE FLAGS Chinese pirates prowled the South seas from the 1600s to the 1800s. They sailed in large Pirate flags are amongst the most famous in history and are a great fleets under a commander, and they were very well example of the way a flag can be used to send a powerful message. organised, with each squadron in the fleet flying a different flag. They sometimes hoisted flags depicting gods and goddesses who ruled the oceans for good luck. One of China’s most famous pirates was a woman – Ching Shi – who GOLDEN AGE FLAGS commanded a fleet of 80,000 men. Her ships flew red flags, giving them the name The Red Flag Fleet. In the 1600s and 1700s, pirates cruised the Caribbean cargo. When they approached a ship, they flew a scary and the southeast Atlantic coast of North America, in flag to encourage the crew to surrender without a fight. an era we call the Golden Age of pirates. They were the The pictures on the flags threatened death to those who kinds of pirates made famous in Hollywood movies, and resisted. We tend to think of a flag with a skull and they tried to steal any ships they found carrying valuable crossbones, but each captain had his own design. FALSE COLOURS THE JOLLY ROGER

Sometimes pirates would fly The most famous pirate flag of all is the Jolly Roger. a false flag – a ruse de guerre Its name may come from the French words jolie rouge – – pretending to be friendly. meaning ‘pretty red’ (a sick joke, because red signalled When close enough to attack, death). Before it developed into a flag with pictures on it, they would swap it for their the Jolly Roger was a solid black or red flag. Pirates flew pirate flag, surprising their prey. the black flag as a symbol demanding surrender, then changed the flag to a red one to send the message that it was too late, and there would be no mercy. The name could also come from a British slang name for the Devil – Old Roger. This black flag depicting a blood-coloured skeleton was used by a very cruel pirate called Edward Low. Blackbeard’s flag featured a skeleton holding an hourglass, sending The Jolly Roger the message: You don’t have much time. Surrender or die!

Calico Jack Rackham’s flag had a skull Pirate Captain Bart Roberts showed he and two fearsome swords on it. wasn’t afraid of death. His flag shows him holding up an hourglass with a skeleton.

28 29 AFRICA AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC CÔTE D’IVOIRE PAGE 48 OF THE CONGO PAGE 72 PAGE 61 LESOTHO PAGE 49 REPUBLIC OF CONGO PAGE 74 PAGE 61 WESTERN SAHARA (DISPUTED TERRITORY) PAGE 49 PAGE 74 PAGE 62 GUINEA PAGE 50 SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE PAGE 75 PAGE 62 GUINEA-BISSAU PAGE 50 PAGE 75 MAURITANIA PAGE 63 PAGE 51 PAGE 76 PAGE 63 SENEGAL THE GAMBIA PAGE 51 CENTRAL AFRICAN PAGE 77 CABO VERDE GUINEA REPUBLIC PAGE 64 CABO VERDE GUINEA- PAGE 52 PAGE 77 CÔTE BISSAU D’IVOIRE CENTRAL SOUTH SUDAN AFRICAN REPUBLIC MAURITANIA PAGE 64 SIERRA CAMEROON PAGE 52 PAGE 78 LEONE ETHIOPIA LIBERIA MALI EQUATORIAL GUINEA UGANDA PAGE 65 CONGO KENYA PAGE 53 PAGE 78 GABON SOMALIA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC SEYCHELLES PAGE 66 BURKINA FASO SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE OF THE CONGO PAGE 53 PAGE 79 DJIBOUTI PAGE 66 NIGER COMOROS PAGE 56 PAGE 79 ERITREA PAGE 67 EGYPT PAGE 56 PAGE 80 ANGOLA MOZAMBIQUE SUDAN ZAMBIA PAGE 67 LIBYA PAGE 57 PAGE 81 MADAGASCAR CHAD ZIMBABWE MALAWI TANZANIA PAGE 68 TUNISIA NAMIBIA PAGE 57 PAGE 82 NIGERIA BOTSWANA KENYA PAGE 68 ALGERIA MAURITIUS PAGE 58 PAGE 82 BENIN UGANDA PAGE 69 MOROCCO PAGE 59 PAGE 83 ESWATINI TOGO RWANDA PAGE 69 LESOTHO PAGE 59 GHANA BURUNDI PAGE 72 PAGE 60

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