| Peru |
This flag is either the result of a general seeing a flock of flamingos with red wings and white breasts fly overhead
or it has more to do with red and white being traditional Inca colours.
|
|---|
| Guatemala |
This flag was originally based on the Argentinian one (as were those of other Central American states which broke away from Spanish rule).
The orientation was changed from horizontal to vertical bands later.
|
|---|
| Nigeria |
The flag proportions are the result of Nigeria formerly being a British colony.
This competition-winning design represents the river Niger running through forests on either side.
In addition, the green colour symbolises agricultural wealth and the white is for unity and peace.
|
|---|
| France |
There are various sources for the symbology of the colours in the flag of the French Republic.
At the time the "tricolour" was revolutionary in its simplicity and influenced the design of later flags.
|
|---|
| Belgium |
The colours of the Belgian flag predate the French tricolour and were common to the arms of most Belgian provinces.
However, the switch from the earlier horizontal bands to vertical bands was made after independence.
It is not quite a square.
|
|---|
| Italy |
This one was based on the French one. It had a coat of arms in the centre until Italy became a republic.
|
|---|
| Romania |
While based on the French tricolour, the bands were originally horizontal not vertical.
|
|---|
| Andorra |
This is another French-influenced tricolour.
However, the colours reflect those of both France and Spain - who were joint protectors of the co-principality.
|
|---|
| Guinea |
When Guinea achieved independence from France, the tricolour design was kept but the Pan-African colours substituted.
Symbolically it also matches the national motto: red for work, yellow for justice and green for solidarity.
|
|---|
| Mali |
Mali has been occupied by France, a French colony, part of a federation and finally independent.
Here the Pan-African colours are used the other way round.
A black human stick-figure in the central band was soon dropped from the flag.
|
|---|
| Chad |
This is a recent French-derived tricolour - mixing the colours of France and the Pan-African movement.
However, the colours also symbolise the sky and waters, the sun and deserts and valour and sacrifice in the struggle for freedom.
|
|---|
| Ivory Coast |
Yet another tricolour for another ex-colony of France which gained independence.
This time orange is for progress or the northern plains, green is for hope or southern agriculture and white is for unity.
|
|---|
| Ireland |
The green band is supposed to represent the Catholic, Gaelic and Anglo-Norman communities
while the orange is for the northern Protestants.
The white in the centre symbolises hope for peace and trust between them. That would be nice.
|
|---|
| Senegal |
Senegal followed the same route as Mali but replaced the stick figure with a star.
|
|---|
| Cameroon |
Despite its similar appearance, the Cameroon flag followed a slightly different route to that of Senegal.
It was split between France and Britain. The French part became independent first.
When the British part followed, the flag originally had 2 yellow stars representing the 2 parts (arranged vertically in the top left corner or canton).
Eventually the single central star replaced these in order to show national unity.
|
|---|
| Canada |
This is a fairly recent flag which attempted to satisfy all citizens, whatever their background.
It combines the national colours from one ensign and coat of arms with the maple leaf, an older emblem.
|
|---|
Home
Start a new conversation