Flags

Curving your way around the Avenue de la Paix (Avenue of Peace) from Lake Geneva, as you look to your right, you will witness a brilliant display - 193 national flags neatly lined along a beautifully manicured lawn leading to the entrance of a grandiose building. You will of course be standing in front of the United Nations Headquarters building, each flag representing one of its member states. Using pieces of cloth with patterns to represent countries is a concept we take completely for granted nowadays. However, the idea isn’t as old as you might think. The use of flags isn’t just restricted to differentiating nations either. Flags are powerful symbols with the capacity to identify, communicate, unify and divide. Come on a journey to explore the idea of the flag.

Member state flags at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland

Origins

Long before the concept of making flags from cloth, societies often used so-called ‘vexilloids’ as symbolic representations. From the Latin vexillum, referring to a Roman military banner, vexiloids are essentially objects other than a flag that serve a similar function. Ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Akkadians and Persians, for example, often used decorative staffs to represent their regions, empires or gods in battles or processions. Cloth was later implemented on military banners to designate different formations and locate important figures. This started with the Chinese and was later adopted by empires in the West. One of the most famous of these is the Roman 'vexillum' or 'standard', carried by Roman legions into battle. The word vexillum itself derives from the Latin velum, meaning ‘little sail’, due to its resemblance to the sails on a ship.

Heraldry

It was only in the Middle Ages that flags in the form that we understand them today began to emerge in Europe. They were influenced by medieval heraldry, where symbols were used to identify nobility and royal houses. These symbols were then used on the flags or banners of duchies, kingdoms, and sometimes empires. But not every banner at the time was based on heraldry. For example, the raven banner of the Norse (Vikings) featured pagan iconography. In fact, the English word flag may itself derive from the Norse word flaka, meaning to ‘flutter’ or ‘flap’.

Heraldic banners

Early European Flags

The modern flag representing nation-states emerged with the rise of nationalism in Europe from the 17th century onwards. States were increasingly forming based not on a nobleman’s territorial boundaries, but on nations - collections of people unified by a shared identity in language, culture, history, etc. These new nation-states thus needed symbols that reflected nationhood. Some of these symbols had deep historic roots, for example the flag of Denmark, the oldest continuously used national flag in the world. According to legend, it fell from the sky during the Battle of Lindanise in 1219 between the Danes and Estonians, and was subsequently adopted as their national symbol. Whatever the real origin is, the cross on the flag symbolises the Christianisation of the Danes, and was made the official flag of the State of Denmark in 1625. Another early national flag is the English flag, officially adopted in 1552. It features the St. George’s Cross, which had been a common symbol for English soldiers for centuries, who wore it on their armour and flew it as a naval ensign while on crusade from the 12th century onwards. The oldest tricolour flag in continuous use is the Dutch flag, adopted in 1575. It was based on the Prince’s Flag of Dutch revolutionaries, which originally used orange rather than red.

Thank the French (merci!)

Many of Europe’s younger flags were the result of the nationalist and liberal revolutions that swept the continent in the 18th and 19th centuries. These movements needed simple flags representing their populist sentiment. The main inspiration for them was the French flag, which replaced the banner of the House of Bourbon in 1794 after the monarchy was abolished during the French Revolution. The three stripes supposedly originally represented the people of Paris (red and blue) and the monarchy (white) before its abolition, although the colours are now often used to represent the national motto of liberté, équalité, fraternité. The flag was, however, ultimately inspired by the Dutch tricolour flag, being a literal rotation of it. Other European states, such as Belgium, later followed the French example, with their own vertical tricolours. Others followed the Dutch example, adopting horizontal tricolours, for example Germany (originally white, black and red). These simple European flag patterns later went on to inspire the flags of a swathe of the world’s nations finding their independence and statehood for the first time in the 19th and 20th centuries.

French Tricolore

Influence

The designs of many flags have been inspired by those of neighbouring countries or those that have strong cultural influences.

Pan-Slavic Flags

As we previously learnt, the Dutch flag influenced the French tricolore, but another flag that it influenced was the Russian flag - the oldest Slavic flag. It was adopted by Peter the Great in 1696, who had spent a long sojourn in the Netherlands and was heavily influenced by Dutch society. So he thought he might claim the flag for his own empire, simply switching the place of the colours. The Russian flag then went on to influence the colour scheme of many other Slavic countries, with the colours red, white and blue being adopted as the pan-Slavic colours by the Pan-Slavic Congress in 1848. Ironically, at that time, Russia was seen as the protector of the Slavic peoples in Eastern Europe. 

Nordic Brotherhood

You may have also noticed that all the Nordic countries, from Iceland to Finland, share the same style cross (referred to as the ‘Nordic Cross’). That’s because they were all inspired by the Danish flag (Denmark once being the region's hegemon), and like Denmark, wanted their flags to reflect their conversion from paganism to Christianity. Remnants of this Nordic influence can also be seen in the local flags of former Nordic colonies such as the Shetland and Orkney Islands (now part of Scotland).  

Pan-Arab Flags

Have you ever wondered why so many countries in the Middle East use the combination of black, white, green, and red? Well, it's because these are the pan-Arab colours, which go back to the Arab revolt of 1916 against the Ottomans. The colours they used were inspired by the colours associated with three major historical caliphates - Abbasid (black), Umayyad (white), and Fatimid (green). A red triangle was used to represent the revolters themselves and to an extent, sympathetic Ottomans. 

Flags of Communist/Socialist States

The flags of communist and socialist countries, both current and defunct, share many features that were ultimately inspired by the flag of the now-dissolved Soviet Union. These include heavy use of the colour red (the colour of socialism), a star representing the ruling party and in the Soviet sphere of influence, the hammer and sickle. The only current exception to this is the flag of Laos, which features a moon rather than a star. In former socialist states, displaying non-socialist national flags was illegal and severely punished as they were associated with independence and democratic movements.

Union Flag/Union Jack

If you look at a map chart, you’ll also notice that many feature the British flag, often referred to as the Union Flag or Union Jack. The first Union Flag was formed by the combination of the flags of the English (St. George’s Cross) and Scottish (St. Andrew’s Cross) with the union between England and Scotland in the 17th century. The flag of the Irish (St. Patrick’s Cross) was later added after the Acts of Union of 1800 merged the Kingdoms of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland. You may be wondering why the crosses on the Scottish and Irish flags were diagonal (known as a saltire). Well, this is because St. Andrew and St. Patrick, like many martyrs, were supposedly crucified on this type of cross. The Welsh flag does not feature on the British flag because it had already been unified with England before the Union with Scotland. The flags of many current or former British colonies feature the Union Flag in the top left corner.

Formation of the Union Jack

Motifs

Crosses

Crosses are found on many flags around the world, not just those with the Union Jack or from Northern Europe. In fact, 11% of all national flags feature a cross of some sort, reflecting these nations’ Christian heritage or that of their colonisers. These include, among many others, the flags of Georgia, Greece, Malta, and of course the Vatican City.

Celestial Bodies

Another common flag motif is celestial symbols - the stars, the sun and the moon. In fact, more than 30% of national flags contain at least one star. Sometimes they represent states (e.g. USA) or provinces (e.g. Venezuela), while on others, the people, government or revolution, etc. Some flags include whole constellations, with the most common being the Southern Cross, featured on the flags of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau, Samoa and Brazil. The sun is found on the flags of Argentina, Uruguay, Japan, the Philippines, Malawi, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Rwanda, among others. While the moon is found on the flags of Nepal, Laos and Palau, as well as in crescent shape on the flags of 15 (predominantly Muslim) countries, which we'll explore further on.

Eagle

Many flags feature birds of various species, but the most common is, without a doubt, the eagle, which also features on many national emblems. As a symbol of power and strength, the eagle was often used as an imperial symbol throughout history, including by the Romans, Germany and Russia. Flags that feature eagles today include Albania, Montenegro, Mexico, Moldova, Zambia, Ecuador, Egypt and Romania. 

Weapons 

Many flags feature weapons. Often, this is due to cultural significance or to pay homage to historical conflicts or struggles.

On the more subtle side of things are flags like the Kenyan flag with spears and traditional Maasai shield, representing their tribal heritage and defence of freedom, and the Guatemalan flag with crossed rifles representing their war of independence from 1821. 

The flags of Angola and Saudi Arabia feature weapons that are slightly more eye-catching. The Angolan flag features a star and gear wheel along with a machete representing both the peasantry of the country and their armed struggle against their Portuguese colonisers. The Saudi flag, meanwhile, features its national symbol, the sabre, beneath a Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith) representing the militancy of their faith.

But the flag with perhaps the most striking depiction of a weapon is that of Mozambique, which features an AK-47 complete with fixed bayonet. It represents the country's struggles for independence and vigilance in the face of threats.

Mozambique

Colour

Colour is perhaps the most important element of a flag. Colours carry deep symbolic relevance while giving a flag aesthetic appeal. But why are some colours so popular, while others are scarcely used at all?

Trivia time!

Source: https://flaglookup.com/statistics

So why are these colours the most common?

And why, on the other hand, are these colours so uncommon?

Orange features relatively rarely on national flags - approximately 4% to be precise. Orange is technically a combination of red and yellow and was only differentiated as a separate colour in the English language around 500 years ago. This is due to the colour actually occurring quite rarely in nature. The colour is named after the fruit of the same name, after it was introduced into Europe from Asia.

Purple was historically an incredibly expensive dye, made from crushed sea snails. The word itself comes from the Greek porphura, referring to a specific species. Hence, this is why it was worn almost exclusively by the aristocracy, and is where we get the expression “born in the purple”. While purple is no longer an expensive colour today, thanks to synthetic dyes, most national colours and flags were designed in a time when it still was. In fact, only two flags today include the colour, albeit in minor detail: Dominica and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Pink, meanwhile, is technically just a light shade of red and the two weren’t historically differentiated. The word pink itself is only about 500 years old, deriving from a family of flowers known as ‘the pinks’. The colour that we would today call ‘pink’ wasn’t always popular in the past, and certainly didn’t have the same connotations that it has now. This may explain why not a single national flag includes the colour.

Brown, like pink, doesn’t feature on any national flags, and it’s not hard to imagine why. Its symbology can be associated with the earth, but also with, well, dirtiness... It’s also not a very powerful colour and quite dull to the eye. 

Distinctive Flags

Many flag designs are as simple as a few coloured stripes, which often causes confusion when differentiating similar ones.

However, despite the simplicity of these flag layouts, they are no less symbolically relevant, instead telling stories through their colours. For example, the colours on the modern Irish flag symbolise the country's turbulent religious history, with green standing for Catholics, orange for Protestants, and white for peace between them. The same colours on the flag of Côte d'Ivoire, meanwhile, represent growth (orange), unity (white) and hope (green).

Another example is the Ukrainian flag, whose colours have historical relevance dating back more than one thousand years, when it was used by the rulers of Kyiv. Today, it is said to represent a blue sky over yellow fields and is an enduring symbol of their historic fight for independence.

Ukraine

Can you match these flags correctly? Drag them to the correct place if you can!

Many flags do, on the other hand, feature intricate patterns and symbols that have fascinating backstories, setting them apart from the rest.

Here are some of the contenders for most unique national flag:

1. Bhutan

From the snowy Himalayas comes the flag of the tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. The flag features diagonal yellow and orange halves, representing the king and the Buddha respectively. On top lies a white dragon known in Bhutanese folklore as the Druk. It is said that when thunder occurs, it is the roar of the Druk. The Druk also symbolises wealth, hence why on the flag the creature is seen clutching jewels in its claws.

Brunei

2. Brunei

Brunei’s flag is bold and full of symbolism. The yellow background, less common on flags, stands for the sultan, while the black and white stripes represent the country’s senior ministers. At the centre is a red crest representing Islam, a parasol for the monarchy, and two hands symbolising protection.

Brunei

3. Eswatini

The flag of Eswatini is one of the most striking in Africa. It features a large shield and two spears across the centre, symbolising protection from enemies. The shield is black and white, standing for unity between people of different races. Behind it, bold stripes of blue, yellow, and red represent peace, natural resources, and past battles.

Eswatini

4. Mongolia 

Vertical red stripes represent freedom, prosperity and progress, while a blue stripe represents the eternal blue sky. But if the colour scheme and shape of the Mongolian flag are nothing to write home about, its core symbol, the Soyombo, certainly is. The Soyombo is the national symbol of Mongolia and has a history that goes back more than 500 years. If you look carefully, you’ll see it features 10 symbolic elements, including the sun, fire, a spear, taijitu (yin-yang) and the walls of a fort, just to name a few. Now that’s a lot to unpack!

Mongolia

5. Nepal

Another Himalayan contender for most unique flag is Nepal. First and foremost, for being the only triangular national flag in the world, which was a common trend for many Asian nations in the past. It features both the sun and moon representing longevity, with its red background and blue trim representing bravery and harmony respectively. 

Nepal

6. North Macedonia

North Macedonia’s flag is strikingly bright, featuring a starburst sun with eight rays stretching across a red field. The design is based on a symbol known as the Star of Verghina, originally used by Alexander the Great and his father Phillip II as their dynastic symbol. The sun is an ancient symbol, long associated with the region’s history. However, the Greeks consider claims to ancient Macedonian heritage by present-day (Slavic) Macedonians as appropriation. This already led to the Macedonians changing their flag slightly in 1995 and even their name from Macedonia to North Macedonia in 2019. Nevertheless, the bold design and history make it one of the most eye-catching flags in the world.

North Macedonia

7. Papua New Guinea 

From the tropics comes the flag of the humble nation of Papua New Guinea. It features a yellow Kumul or Raggiana bird-of-paradise and the Southern Cross constellation over the national colours of red and black placed diagonally. These colours are inspired by the colours of the flag of the German Empire, which colonised the country until 1919.

Papua New Guinea

8. South Korea

The flag of South Korea, known as the Taegeukgi, is deceptively simple at first glance, but it’s packed with symbolism. At its centre sits the taegeuk, a red and blue yin-yang symbol representing balance in the universe - red for positive forces, blue for negative. Surrounding it are four black trigrams deriving from the I Ching, each representing a different natural element and cosmic principle: heaven, earth, fire, and water. The white background signifies peace and purity.

South Korea

9. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s flag is loaded with meaning. The golden lion holding a sword stands for bravery, and the native Sinhalese people, while the four leaves in the corners are symbols of Buddhism. The orange and green stripes represent the Tamil and Muslim communities, and the yellow border ties the whole flag together as a symbol of unity.

Sri Lanka

10. Tibet

While no longer officially recognised as a national flag since China’s annexation of the country in 1950, the Tibetan flag is a strong contender for world’s most unique. It features everything you want in a flag: snow lions, jewels representing Buddhist tenets, a snow-clad mountain, colourful rays and of course the sun. The six red rays blaze atop a blue sky, representing the six ancestral tribes of Tibet.

Tibet

11. Uganda

Uganda’s flag is instantly recognisable with its bold black, yellow, and red stripes. At the centre stands a grey crested crane, the country’s national bird, known for its elegance and peaceful nature. The bird’s raised leg symbolises forward movement, while the colours represent the people, sunshine, and brotherhood.

Uganda

12. Wales

The Welsh flag features simple green and white lines dominated by a giant red dragon. The red dragon has been a Welsh national symbol since at least the 5th century, when Briton kings borrowed the image from Roman standards, which likely in turn borrowed it from the Dacians. However, a 9th-century legend from the Historia Brittonum claims that while building a fort, the Briton king Vortigen was approached by the legendary druid Merlin and told to dig up two dragons - one red and one white. The red dragon represented the Celtic Britons, while the white dragon represented the Anglo-Saxons. The two dragons engaged in a ferocious battle, whereby the red dragon defeated its opponent. Merlin henceforth prophesied that the Britons would expel the Anglo-Saxons from Britain. 

Wales

Flag Poll

Indigenous Flags

Many indigenous groups have their own distinct flags. Some were created to represent individual groups, while others were created as symbols of unified culture and identity. Here are some of the most well-known.

Aboriginal flag (Australia)

The Aboriginal flag was designed by Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas in 1970 as a symbol of collective Aboriginal identity. Black represents the people, yellow represents the sun, and red represents the earth. The flag was officially recognised in 1995 and is today flown alongside the Australian flag at most government institutions.

Māori flag (New Zealand)

Inspired by the Aboriginal flag, the national Māori flag was introduced in New Zealand in 1990. Each colour represents a realm in the Māori creation story: black represents Te Korekore (potential being), red Te Whai Ao (coming into being), and white Te Ao Mārama (the realm of being and light). It also features the native silver fern and a long white cloud, referencing the Maori name for New Zealand - Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud). 

Native American flags  (USA/Canada)

Many Native American groups and tribal nations have their own flags, with no official flag collectively representing all of them. 

Sami (Northern Europe)

The Sami are a non-Indo-European indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi - an area covering the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The Sami flag was created by Astrid Båhl, and adopted in 1986. It combines the traditional Sami colours, containing cosmic symbolism.

Supranational Flags

Supranational organisations also have their own prominent flags:

Flag of the European Union

The flag of Europe was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1955 and subsequently by its successor, the European Union. It features a simple blue background and twelve gold stars, representing the shared identity of Europeans and their shared values of unity, solidarity and harmony.

European Union

Flag of the African Union

The flag of the African Union was adopted in 2010. It features a light green background representing hope, a map of the continent over a white sun and 55 gold stars representing its member states.

African Union

Flag of ASEAN

The flag of ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) features a blue background representing peace and stability. In the centre are ten yellow rice stalks bound together, representing its members united together. These are placed over a red circle with a white trim representing the unity of ASEAN, with the four colours together representing the main colours of the national flags of its members. 

ASEAN

Flag of the United Nations

The UN flag was officially adopted in 1947 and features a light blue background as the opposite of the war colour red, with white olive branches representing peace, and an azimuthal equidistant projection of the globe representing the world’s nations. 

United Nations

Non-National Flags

Beyond nation-states, flags can also represent territories, states, regions or cities. However, they are also used for many other purposes.

Flags of Organisations

Olympic flag

The Olympic flag is one of the most recognised symbols in the world, introduced at the 1914 Olympic Congress in Paris. It shows five interlocking rings in blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white background, representing the unity of the five continents and the coming together of athletes from around the globe in friendship and competition.

Olympics

The Red Cross Flag

The Red Cross flag is simple but instantly recognisable: a red cross on a white background. It’s a symbol of medical aid and neutrality, used to protect medical personnel and facilities in times of conflict. The organisation and its design were recognised in the First Geneva Convention of 1864. The flag is, in fact, an inverse Swiss flag, honouring the country where the organisation was founded and its commitment to neutrality. Affiliate organisations of the Red Cross include the Red Crescent (for Muslim countries) and the Red Crystal (for secular use). Today, the symbol is used for medical treatment more generally. 

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

The NATO flag is simple, yet symbolic, featuring a white compass rose on a dark blue field. The compass rose represents guidance and unity, while the four lines radiating from it symbolise the alliance’s commitment to collective defence. The blue background symbolises the Atlantic Ocean.

NATO

Religious Flags

Buddhism

The religion of Buddhism has its own dedicated flag, designed in Sri Lanka in 1880 by the Colombo Committee and formally adopted by the World Buddhist Congress in 1952. It comprises a colourful array of stripes, each one representing a core virtue of the faith: compassion (blue), balance (yellow), virtue (red), purity (white) and wisdom (orange). Buddhist symbology is also featured on the national flags of Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet (defunct). Buddhist Prayer flags featuring the mantra om mani padme hum are also commonly seen displayed in Buddhist countries.

Hinduism

While Hinduism doesn’t have its own dedicated flag, its symbology does feature on the flag of India. The colours of the Indian flag represent the religions of Hinduism (saffron or orange), Islam (green) and others such as Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism (white). The Ashoka Chakra in the centre of the flag is the wheel of the law of dharma, with spiritual relevance for both Hinduism and Buddhism.

India

Christianity

Religious flags or banners have been around for centuries. For example, after the Christianisation of the Roman Empire, the chi-rho (☧), representing the first two letters of the Greek word for ‘Christ’ (XP), was often placed on imperial standards and later on church banners. During the Crusades, crusaders carried banners featuring the cross in various designs, one of which (the St. George’s Cross) inspired the English Flag. Christian orders such as the Knights Templar and the Teutonic Order likewise had their own flags. As we explored earlier, the cross is today one of the most common symbols found on national flags.

Chi-Rho on Roman labarum (AI reconstruction)

Judaism

The Star of David has been a Jewish symbol for more than a millennium, which made it an ideal choice for the flag of Israel when it declared independence in 1948.

Israel

Islam

As we explored earlier, many nations (15 in fact) feature the crescent moon on their flags (often combined with stars) as an enduring symbol of Islam. This symbol was introduced into the religion by the Ottomans, who borrowed it from an ancient Assyrian or Babylonian symbol of a similar fashion.

Political Flags

Flags are notoriously good at representing political views, encapsulating entire movements with as little as a single symbol or a few colours. Here are some of the most well-known worldwide.

LGBTQIA+ Flag

The LGBTQIA+ flag is an adaptation of the pride (rainbow flag), first created in 1978 by artist and activist Gilbert Baker to represent the queer community. Each colour of the original flag represented values such as life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit. Over time, the design evolved to include variations that acknowledge diversity within the community, such as the inclusion of black and brown stripes to represent people of colour, as well as pink, light blue, and white to represent transgender identities, and purple ring on a yellow background to represent intersex and non-binary identities.

LGBTQIA+ Flag

Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) flag emerged alongside the movement founded in 2013 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. It symbolises solidarity, resistance, and the demand for equality.

BLM Flag

Gadsden Flag

The Gadsden flag, also known as the "Don't Tread on Me" flag, was designed by Christopher Gadsden in 1775 during the American Revolution. Featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the warning phrase, it symbolised resistance to tyranny and the colonies’ fight for independence. Today, it is still flown as a sign of defiance and libertarianism.

Gadsden Flag

Extremist Flags

Some of the most well-known and infamous flags are those of extremist ideological movements, whether political, religious or otherwise. These flags are highly controversial or considered symbols of hate and have been outlawed in many countries. Depictions are for informative purposes and are in no way an endorsement.

Fundamental Islamist Organisations

The news is often full of images of fundamentalist groups waving their flags in zealous fervour, the symbols on them showing their core beliefs. Some of the most well-known are those of fundamental Islamist organisations.

• The flag of ISIS uses the black banner of the Abbasid Caliphate with the shahada (Islamic declaration of faith) in white and a white circular seal motif below.

• Al-Qaeda also employs the black banner with the shahada in white - a version of the flag of Jihad.

• The Taliban flag is the inverse: the white banner of the Ummayad Caliphate, representing purity, with the shahada written in black.

• The flag of Hamas features the green banner of the Fatimid Caliphate, symbolising Islam and paradise, with the shahada and sometimes the Dome of the Rock in its emblem.

• Hezbollah’s flag is bright yellow, chosen for visibility and differentiating it as a Shia movement, with its logo in green: a stylised rifle raised amid Arabic script, representing militant resistance, alongside Qur’anic references. All of these groups follow the principle of militant Jihad and have been responsible for the use of terror and violence to achieve their ideological aims.

Confederate Flag (US)

The Confederate Flag was originally used as the battle flag of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861–1865). It features a red field with a blue saltire (diagonal cross) edged in white, decorated with thirteen white stars representing the states of the Confederacy. Today, it is often associated with slavery, segregation, and white supremacist movements, although many defend its use as a symbol of Southern heritage.

Rising Sun Flag

The Rising Sun flag was used historically by the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy and features a red sun with 16 red rays extending outward on a white field. It symbolises sunlight, energy, and the Emperor. Today, the flag is still used by the Japanese military, though it remains highly controversial in parts of Asia due to its association with ultranationalism, Japanese militarism and atrocities committed in WWII.

Nazi Flag

The Nazi flag was adopted by the National Socialist German Workers' Party in the 1920s and became Germany’s national flag under Nazi rule (1933–1945). It features a black swastika (an ancient symbol in many cultures) in a white circle on a red field. The red symbolised the social idea of the movement, white represented nationalism, and the swastika was used as a symbol of Aryan identity and racial ideology. Today, the flag is banned or restricted in many countries due to its association with hate, genocide, and World War II.

Socialist/Communist Flag

The flag of socialism is a plain red banner, which became prominent during the 19th-century labour movements and revolutions. The colour is meant to symbolise the blood of workers and revolutionaries. Flags of communist or socialist states have, therefore, traditionally used the colour heavily. The flag of the Soviet Union, adopted in 1922, is undoubtedly the most recognisable of these, with its infamous gold hammer and sickle. The hammer represented the industrial workers, while the sickle represented the peasantry. The star represented the party leading the people. This design was the inspiration for many other communist and socialist countries (many now defunct). Today, flags related to communism are offensive to many people and especially controversial in countries that suffered under Communist regimes in the past.

Antifa Flag

Antifa (anti-fascist) is a loose communist/anarchist movement with roots in Germany, openly and often violently opposing right-wing extremism. The Antifa flag usually features two overlapping red and black flags on a white or black background. The red flag represents socialism or communism, while the black flag represents anarchism. Like most political flags, it has no official status, but is a widely recognised political symbol. It is seen as controversial by many due to a tendency towards violence and civil disobedience by many within the movement. 

Flags For Communication

Racing Flags

The system of motor racing flags developed in the early 20th century as a way to communicate with drivers before modern radios. The most famous, the chequered flag, is believed to have first appeared in the Vanderbilt Cup in 1906, and became standard by the 1920s to signal the finish. Its black-and-white pattern was chosen for maximum visibility against the dust and crowds of early racetracks. Since then, the chequered flag has become an enduring global symbol of racing.

White Flag (Surrender)

The white flag has long been used as a signal of surrender or truce in warfare, and while its exact origins are unclear, references to it go as far back as the Roman historian Livy in the 3rd century BCE. During the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage, the Carthaginians signalled their desire for peace with bands of white wool and olive branches. Other records show Mediterranean peoples using white cloth to request a truce. This may have been related to the use of white clothing when worshipping gods to signal reverence and goodwill. The practice spread through Europe in the Middle Ages, and by the 17th century, it had become a standardised symbol of surrender and truce, recognised internationally.

Nautical Flags

Nautical flags have been used for centuries to identify ships, show national allegiance, and communicate at sea. From simple banners in ancient fleets to the elaborate ensigns of the Age of Sail, they marked a ship’s country, commander, or mission. Today, navies fly national ensigns, jacks, and signal flags, following international codes to convey orders, warnings, and messages, blending practical communication with symbolism and ceremony.

Naval ensigns

Jolly Roger (Pirate Flag)

The Jolly Roger is the famous pirate flag with a white skull and crossbones. Pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries often flew a black flag to intimidate their targets and signal that they were outside the law. Its bold design warned ships to surrender without a fight, promising violence if ignored. The name Jolly Roger is of uncertain origin, but there are several theories. One is that it relates to “Old Roger”, a nickname for the devil in 17th–18th century England. Another is that it derives from the French phrase “joli rouge” (jolly red). Pirates would sometimes fly a red flag instead of a black flag to indicate that no quarter would be given to the crew if they chose to fight rather than surrendering. 

Conclusion

Flags are just one of the many ways that humans communicate symbolically. They are a tool with which we can express our identities, whether it be our nationality, religion or ideology, represent organisations and movements and communicate without language. The sheer range of designs is itself a marvel, and even more so when you realise that each one has its own unique origin. So the next time you see a flag, ask yourself what story might be hiding behind it. Chances are, it’s a lot more than you think.

Sources:

• The Colour Pink | Hunter Lab

• Flag Colour Statistics | Flag Lookup

• Flag Heraldry | Britannica

• Historic flags of Islam | CRW Flags

• History of Christian Flags | Wikiwand

• History of the Colour Orange | Arts and Collections

• Islamic Flags | CRW Flags

• Manipulation of Heraldic Design | Britannica 

• National Flag Origins: Religion, Revolution and Rivalry | Gabriella Elgenius

• Purple - Nature's Rarest Colour | Studyspec

  
  

Image credits:

• Carolingian Banner (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Egyptian Standards (public domain)

• Flag of France (Valois Dynasty) (public domain)

• Flag of Normandy (public domain)

• Flag of the Knights Templar (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Imperial Flag of the Holy Roman Empire (CC BY-SA 3.0) 

• Museum Petronell - Vexillum, illustration by Wolfgang Sauber (CC BY-SA 3.0)

• Norse Raven Banner (GNU Free Documentation license)

• Prayer flags, Dharamsala, by Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Reconstructed Flag of Wessex by William Crampton (CC BY-SA 3.0)