Argentina
Argentina’s flag has blue and white stripes with a sun in the center. The Argentine flag, which was officially adopted by the country in 1816, has a horizontal triband design with two light blue stripes on the top and bottom and a white stripe in the middle. In the center of the white band, there’s a golden sun symbol known as the Sun of May, which is the national emblem of Argentina and Uruguay. The Sun of May commemorates the May Revolution of 1810, an important historical event that led to the independence of both countries. The flag itself was also designed during the Argentine War of Independence. Year of Adoption: 1816 Designer: Manuel Belgrano Color Symbolism: The blue and white may represent the sky and the clouds, but others argue that they demonstrate affiliation with the House of Bourbon.
El Salvador
El Salvador’s flag features a cobalt blue and white triband and a coat of arms. The flag of El Salvador has two dark blue stripes on the top and bottom, with a central white stripe sandwiched between them. In the center of the flag, you can see the country’s national coat of arms, which reads “REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL” (Republic of El Salvador in Central America). The coat of arms also includes five volcanoes to represent the five members of the former Federal Republic of Central America, the Phrygian cap to symbolize liberty, and a rainbow. The national motto ("Dios, Unión, Libertad" [God, Union, Liberty]) and independence day date ("15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821" [September 15, 1821]) also appear. Year of Adoption: 1912. Designers: María Felipa Aranzamendi and Manuela Antonia Arce. Color Symbolism: White for peace and prosperity; blue for the sky and the two oceans that border Central America (the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea).
Finland
Finland’s flag depicts a blue cross laid on a white background. This cobalt blue cross, known as a Nordic cross, historically represents Christian traditions, and it appears on the flags of several other Nordic countries. In Finnish, the flag itself is known as the Siniristilippu, or the “Blue Cross Flag.” It was officially adopted following Finland’s declaration of independence from Russia. Year of Adoption: 1918 Designers: Eero Snellman and Bruno Tuukkanen. Color Symbolism: Blue for the lakes and the sky; white for the snow.
Greece
Greece’s flag has 9 blue-and-white stripes with a white cross on a blue corner square. The Greek flag (aka the “Blue and White, or “Γαλανόλευκη” in Greek) features nine horizontal stripes in an alternating blue and white pattern. In the top-left corner of the flag, however, the stripes are broken by a blue square (also known as a canton) with a white cross laid over it. The white cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, which is the nation’s official and prevailing religion, while the nine stripes represent the nine syllables in the Greek independence motto: "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" (Freedom or Death). Others posit that the stripes represent the nine muses of Ancient Greece. Year of Adoption: 1978. Designer: The First National Assembly of the Greeks. Color Symbolism: Blue for the sea and sky; white for the purity of the struggle for independence.
Guatemala
Guatemala’s flag is a vertical blue-and-white triband with a coat of arms in the center. The flag features two vertical light-blue stripes with a white stripe in between them. The Guatemalan coat of arms sits in the center of the flag, depicting a quetzal (the national bird), a scroll with the date of Central America’s independence from Spain, crossed rifles and swords, and a laurel wreath. The flag’s design is loosely based on the flag of the former Federal Republic of Central America. Year of Adoption: 1871 Designer: Unknown. Color Symbolism: Blue for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea (which border Guatemala); white for peace and purity.
Honduras
Honduras’ flag is a horizontal triband with white and turquoise blue stripes. The flag features two horizontal turquoise stripes on the top and bottom of the flag. A white stripe sits between the two blue ones. In the center of the white band, there are five blue stars arranged in an “X” pattern, with one star at the center and two on either side. These stars are said to represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua). Year of Adoption: 1866 Designer: Unknown. Color Symbolism: Blue for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea (which border Honduras); white to represent the land between the bodies of water and for peace and prosperity.
Israel
Israel’s flag depicts a blue Star of David and two blue stripes on a white field. The Israeli flag features a white background with a blue Star of David sitting in the center. The Star is framed by two horizontal blue stripes—one above it and one below it. This design was inspired by the tallit, or a Jewish prayer shawl, and it was officially adopted immediately after the establishment of the State of Israel. Year of Adoption: 1948 Designers: Jacob and Charles Askowith. Color Symbolism: Blue for divinity; white for purity.
Micronesia
Micronesia’s flag features a light blue field with four white stars arranged on it. The Micronesian flag has a light blue background with five-pointed white stars in the center. These four white stars are arranged in a diamond pattern, with one aligned to each side of the flag. The stars are said to symbolize the four island states that make up the Federated States of Micronesia: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap. Year of Adoption: 1978 Designer: Gonzalo Santos. Color Symbolism: Blue for the Pacific Ocean; white for peace and harmony among the nation’s diverse cultural groups.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua’s flag has three blue-and-white stripes with a coat of arms in the center. The Nicaraguan flag features a horizontal white stripe that’s sandwiched between two horizontal blue stripes. In the center of the white stripe is the Nicaraguan coat of arms, which depicts a triangle, a liberty cap, five volcanoes, and a rainbow. Encircling these symbols are the phrases “República de Nicaragua” (“Republic of Nicaragua”) and “América Central” (“Central America”). Year of Adoption: 1971 Designer: Unknown. Color Symbolism: Blue for the two bodies of water that border Nicaragua (Pacific Ocean & Caribbean Sea); white for peace, virtue, and purity.
San Marino
San Marino’s flag features 2 horizontal blue-and-white stripes and the national coat of arms. The flag is split horizontally in half with two equal bands of white (on the top) and light blue (on the bottom). San Marino’s national coat of arms sits in the center of the flag—the main part of the coat of arms is a shield with a hilly landscape and three towers on it. The shield is topped by a crown and flanked by a wreath of oak and laurel on either side. On the bottom of the shield, there’s a scroll that reads “LIBERTAS” (“Liberty”). Year of Adoption: 1862 Designer: Unknown. Color Symbolism: Blue for liberty; white for peace.
Scotland
Scotland’s flag depicts a white “X” on a blue background. The Scottish flag, also known as the Saltire or Saint Andrew’s Cross, has a simple design of an X-shaped cross on a field of bright blue. The cross is meant to represent the cross that Saint Andrew (Scotland’s patron saint) was crucified on, which was diagonally-shaped after his request to not be crucified on the same type of cross as Jesus Christ. The flag itself is actually one of the oldest national flags that’s still in use today. It dates back to at least the 12th century, and it’s said that the design came from a vision that Saint Andrew had before battle in 832 AD. Year of Adoption: 1542 Designer: Unknown. Color Symbolism: Blue for the sky, loyalty, truth, and peace; white for purity, integrity, and protection.
Somalia
Somalia’s flag is light blue with a white five-pointed star in the center. The light blue Somali flag features a white star in the center, each point of which represents one of the five regions in which Somali people live: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, French Somaliland (Djibouti), the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, and the Northern Frontier District of Kenya. The stars are also thought to symbolize unity and peace among the Somali people. Year of Adoption: 1954 Designer: Mohammed Awale Liban Color Symbolism: Blue for the sky; white for unity and peace.
United Nations
The UN’s flag features the organization’s official emblem (in white) on a blue field. The United Nations, while not a country, is an extremely important international organization that works to maintain international peace and security. Their flag was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1947, in the same year that the official emblem was decided upon. The emblem, which appears in white on the flag, depicts a world map (centered on the North Pole) with two olive branches (symbolizing peace) around it. This white symbol appears on a solid light blue background. Year of Adoption: 1947 Designer: Donal McLaughlin. Color Symbolism: Blue for peace; white for new beginnings and global cooperation.
Uruguay
Uruguay’s flag has 9 blue-and-white stripes and a golden sun in the top-left corner. The Uruguayan flag features nine horizontal stripes that alternate between blue and white. In the top-left corner, there’s a white square with the Sun of May (which looks like a golden sun) inside it. The Sun of May, which has a human face and 16 rays, is on the flag to commemorate the May Revolution of 1810—a key event in Uruguay’s fight for independence. The nine stripes, meanwhile, represent the country’s original nine departments: Montevideo, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Paysandú, Durazno, and Cerro Largo. Year of Adoption: 1828 Designer: Joaquin Suárez. Color Symbolism: Blue for sky, water, loyalty, and truth; white for peace and honesty.
White-Blue-White Flag
The white-blue-white protest flag is used to oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If you’ve ever seen a blue and white flag being used in protests, it’s likely the white-blue-white flag, which is used by Russian citizens and expatriates in protest of their nation’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Some individuals also use it as a symbol of general anti-war sentiment, as well as of opposition toward the Russian government under Vladimir Putin’s leadership. The flag’s design is a horizontal triband, with one light blue stripe in the center and two white stripes on the top and bottom. Year of Creation: 2022 Designers: Kai Katonina and an individual known as "AssezJeune" or "Fish Sounds" (Звуки Рыб, Zvuki Ryb). Color Symbolism: The white-blue-white removes the red stripe from Russia’s national flag in order to symbolize the removal of blood, violence, militarism, and Russian imperialism.
Comments
0 comment