History & Origins of Flags

Explication : The Dannebrog is said to have fallen from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse (Estonia) in 1219. Even if it's a legend, the flag has been documented since the 14th century.

Explication : The colors of Paris (blue and red) combined with royal white. The tricolor cockade was first worn on July 17, 1789.

Explication : St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland), St Patrick (Ireland). Wales is not represented because it was already united with England when the flag was created.

Explication : Ethiopia being the only African country never colonized, its colors became the symbol of resistance and Pan-African freedom.

Explication : Created by Frederick Brownell for the elections on April 27, 1994. Nelson Mandela became the first black president. The Y symbolizes the convergence of peoples.

Explication : Greece opposed the Vergina Sun, symbol of ancient Greek Macedonia. The new 8-rayed sun was imposed as a compromise.

Explication : The two triangles were separate banners of two branches of the Rana dynasty. They were unified in the 19th century. Mathematical proportions defined in the Constitution.

Explication : Adopted in 1955 by the Council of Europe, the 12 stars symbolize perfection and unity. The number 12 has remained fixed even as the EU expanded.

Explication : Under Gaddafi (1977-2011), the flag was a solid green rectangle, the simplest in the world. After the revolution, the old red-black-green monarchist flag was restored.

Explication : Napoleon created the Cisalpine Republic in 1797 with a flag inspired by the French tricolor. Green replaced blue, perhaps referencing the Lombard landscape.

Explication : The French baron designed the 5 interlocking rings representing the 5 continents. Every national flag contains at least one of the 6 colors (white background included).

Explication : Mauritania added red stripes at the top and bottom of the green and gold flag to honor the blood shed by defenders of the nation.

Explication : The crescent is not a Quranic symbol. The Ottoman Empire adopted it, then it spread as a symbol of Islam worldwide.

Explication : At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Liechtenstein discovered its flag was identical to Haiti's. A princely crown was added in 1937.

Explication : Each new star (new state) modified the flag. From 13 stars in 1777 to 50 since 1960 (Hawaii). The current design was proposed by a 17-year-old high school student!