Do you know your flags?

[Glom]

I've just learned something interesting so I decided to start a quiz about flags.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Flag_of_Ireland.svg/600px-Flag_of_Ireland.svg.png

This is the flag of the Republic of Ireland. What is the meaning of the green, white and orange?

[mugaliens]

Land, truth, and blood?

[Glom]

Nope.

[mugaliens]

Ok, then I would hazard that there is no official meaning to it's colors.

[Eric Vaxxine]

The Polish flag is the Monaco flag upside down!
Or...is the Monaco flag the Polish flag upside down?

[Eric Vaxxine]

oh...and the French flag is the Dutch flag when viewed from an angle of 45.

Why do the Americans feel the need to fly the Stars and Stripes on every corner? Is it a 'one government' thing? A civil war reminder? A unity display?
(Patriotism aside). I honestly just don't understand the reason.

Here in the UK, if you fly the Cross of St. George, as opposed to the Union Jack,
it is commonly viewed as a racially emotive symbol. Strange eh?
So symbolic that the English can't celebrate St. George's day to the extent that the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's day!

How odd.

[foreignkid]

Americans are usually very patriotic. However, this has changed dramatically with Bush's rise to power.

Or, it might be just my opinion.



Onto Ireland:
The Green is for the Catholics, the Orange for the Protestants and the White for the peace between them.

[hhEb09'1]

Onto Ireland:
The Green is for the Catholics, the Orange for the Protestants and the White for the peace between them.Not necessarily Catholics--the "native" peoples, who are mostly Catholic. The Orange is for the supports of William of Orange, or the British, in other words.

[Eric Vaxxine]

Weather reports on British TV never include the Irish Rep by name.
How silly. They hardly mention Europe either.
Does Texas have it's own flag?

[Glom]

Ok, then I would hazard that there is no official meaning to it's colors.

They do. The flag was concocted as clashes between Nationalists and Unionists in Ireland at the turn of the 20th century was becoming widespread (eventually leading to cessation of all but the six counties). The Green represents the Nationalists. The Orange represents the Unionists. The White represents peace between them.

I believe a few weeks ago after the deal between Paisley and Adams over Stormont, Adams said that Sinn Fein was all about creating peace between green and orange, referring obviously to the symbolism of peace between him (green) and Paisley (orange) in Northern Ireland.


Why do the Americans feel the need to fly the Stars and Stripes on every corner? Is it a 'one government' thing? A civil war reminder? A unity display?
(Patriotism aside). I honestly just don't understand the reason.

It seems to be a thing peculiar to the English that we just don't fly flags. Here in Aberdeen, you can't move for waving Saltires. We need much more flag flying in England. I'd prefer the Union Flag of course, but I think a good measure of the Cross of St. George is necessary to make sure the Scots don't think we can't live without them.


Here in the UK, if you fly the Cross of St. George, as opposed to the Union Jack,
it is commonly viewed as a racially emotive symbol. Strange eh?
So symbolic that the English can't celebrate St. George's day to the extent that the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's day!

I think the Union Flag itself is not beyond smear tactics either. I'm definitely with you on the need to make a bigger deal St. George's Day. It's on Monday I believe. Having said that, despite all the Saltires, the Scots don't seem to make much of a big deal about St. Andrew's Day either, though the Holyrood is trying to big it up a bit.

[Glom]

Whoops. Sorry, foreignkid and kilopi. Didn't notice you're responses. Must read more carefully.

Kilopi is the most correct. Irish nationalists are generally Catholic and unionists are generally Protestant. That's the reason why those six counties were formed into Northern Ireland. It was because Protestants were in the majority there (though I think demographic changes since account for the nationalism in the South West of NI). However, the sectarian divisions are not absolute. There are a small number of Catholic unionists and a small number of Protestant nationalists.

There are also a small number of Ulster Nationalists, that want cessation from the United Kingdom, but do not want unification with the Republic, but rather for Northern Ireland to be its own country.

Which ever of you two gets here first can ask the next flag question.

[hhEb09'1]

Which ever of you two gets here first can ask the next flag question.me me me

The flag of the Republic of Ireland in the OP consists of vertical bars, or stripes (whichever), and so it is the same when it is upside down. Name a dozen other country flags NOT consisting of vertical bars that are the same upside down.

I think I've found at least a dozen...

[Glom]

me me me

The flag of the Republic of Ireland in the OP consists of vertical bars, or stripes (whichever), and so it is the same when it is upside down. Name a dozen other country flags NOT consisting of vertical bars that are the same upside down.

I think I've found at least a dozen...

Cross of St George (England)
Saltire (Scotland)
Spanish flag
Nigerian flag
Japanese flag
Georgian flag

I will cede the field to the next person to offer examples.

[hhEb09'1]

All of those are correct answers (The Spanish flag of the constitution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Spain) does not contain the crest), except the flag of Nigeria (http://www.flags.net/NGRA.htm) since it consists of vertical bars.

[Glom]

Oh yeah. Somehow I got the idea they were horizontal.

[Eric Vaxxine]

Does Antarctica have a flag?

[Lianachan]

Antartica has no official flag, no.

This site (http://www.fotw.net/flags/) is superb for those (like me) with an interest in flags.

Two other examples of flags that are the same upside down, but don't feature vertical bars, are Switzerland and Israel.

[hhEb09'1]

Two other examples of flags that are the same upside down, but don't feature vertical bars, are Switzerland and Israel.I agree with those. By my count, that gets us up to seven, five short of a dozen.

[Lianachan]

I agree with those. By my count, that gets us up to seven, five short of a dozen.

Didn't realise you wanted a dozen. Five others, without heading too far up the alphabet, are Austria, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Botswana. There are many more.

[hhEb09'1]

Didn't realise you wanted a dozen.Why? :)
Five others, without heading too far up the alphabet, are Austria, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Botswana.I agree with all of those, which brings us to a dozen. You're next up then.
There are many more.Well over a dozen more.

[Lianachan]

OK, probably very easy, but just wanting to throw something out there quickly and in keeping with the original question of the thread.

What do the colours on the attached flag signify?

[hhEb09'1]

What do the colours on the attached flag signify?First I had to figure out what it was! :)

Interesting. The new proposal for an official flag of Orkney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Orkney). Apparently, the colors red and yellow are taken from both Scotland and Norway, the islands' heritage, but they appeared on the previous unofficial flag that looks to have gone back to St. Magnus in the twelfth century (but probably not). "The blue is taken from the flag of Scotland and also represents the sea and the maritime heritage of the islands."

[Lianachan]

First I had to figure out what it was! :)
Indeed - that was probably the trickiest bit.
Interesting. The new proposal for an official flag of Orkney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Orkney). Apparently, the colors red and yellow are taken from both Scotland and Norway, the islands' heritage, but they appeared on the previous unofficial flag that looks to have gone back to St. Magnus in the twelfth century (but probably not). "The blue is taken from the flag of Scotland and also represents the sea and the maritime heritage of the islands."
Close enough, although that Wikipedia article contains mistakes! I am pretty sure the flag is now official, for a start (within the last couple of days). The designer (Duncan Tullock) says:

Orkney has always been represented by red, so that was an obvious choice. The yellow symbolizes the royal standards of both Scotland and Norway and blue is for Scotland, and also for the sea that surrounds us.

The last time I heard him talking about it he also mentioned the yellow border around the blue being like beaches at the sea, and how appropriate that was for the flag for a bunch of islands which boast many nice beaches :)

[hhEb09'1]

Indeed - that was probably the trickiest bit.
Close enough, although that Wikipedia article contains mistakes! Isn't "wiki" hawaiian for "whoops quickly"?

My next question: Besides the Sun, Moon, and Southern Cross, are there any other specific celestial objects represented on any current nation's flag? (I thought that surely Polaris would be there, but I couldn't think of one)

[Cylinder]

Does Texas have it's own flag?

All US states have a flag. (http://www.factmonster.com/spot/stateflags1.html) The Lone Star Flag is unique in the fact that it's the only US state flag that was once a flag of a sovereign country. The Lone Star Flag was the second flag of the Republic of Texas.

[Lianachan]

My next question: Besides the Sun, Moon, and Southern Cross, are there any other specific celestial objects represented on any current nation's flag? (I thought that surely Polaris would be there, but I couldn't think of one)

The Brazilian flag (http://www.fotw.net/flags/br_astro.html) has specific stars on it:

All stars are actually present in the night sky, which is depicted as if seen from above (i.e. from outside the illusory 'globe' that the night sky appears to be when seen from Earth), and positioned as they would have been on 15 November 1889 at 08:30 over Rio de Janeiro.

[Glom]

And on the subject of flags, happy St. George's Day! (Yeah it was two days ago, but I've been travelling relativistically so I'm all out of sync.)

[Lianachan]

And on the subject of flags, happy St. George's Day! (Yeah it was two days ago, but I've been travelling relativistically so I'm all out of sync.)

I'm guessing you're not from Aberdeen ;)

[hhEb09'1]

The Brazilian flag (http://www.fotw.net/flags/br_astro.html) has specific stars on it:Sorry I haven't been around for a few days. Your turn, Lianachan.

[Argos]

The Brazilian flag (http://www.fotw.net/flags/br_astro.html) has specific stars on it:

All stars are actually present in the night sky, which is depicted as if seen from above (i.e. from outside the illusory 'globe' that the night sky appears to be when seen from Earth), and positioned as they would have been on 15 November 1889 at 08:30 over Rio de Janeiro.

The configuration of the sky in the night [the moment] of the proclamation of the republic. The star field is impeded by a stripe bearing the words 'order and progress', a positivist motto. Many Brazilians oppose the words, and would like the flag to be composed only of graphic symbols. It´s one of the rare flags bearing words. It´s funny cause few foreigners would understand.

[Lianachan]

The configuration of the sky in the night [the moment] of the proclamation of the republic. The star field is impeded by a stripe bearing the words 'order and progress', a positivist motto. Many Brazilians oppose the words, and would like the flag to be composed only of graphic symbols. It´s one of the rare flags bearing words. It´s funny cause few foreigners would understand.

Brazil has one of the coolest flags around - it's meaningful and good looking.

[Eric Vaxxine]

The chequered flag is my favourite,
especially when I am the first one to see it!

[Lianachan]

Sorry I haven't been around for a few days. Your turn, Lianachan.

Sorry, didn't notice this.

A very similar question, where most of the work will be in identifying the flag for most people (I would imagine).

Explain the significance of the coloured bands on the attached flag.

[hhEb09'1]

A very similar question, where most of the work will be in identifying the flag for most people (I would imagine).

Explain the significance of the coloured bands on the attached flag.Ah, Uzbekistan (http://flagspot.net/flags/uz.html#des): "White is for peace, green for nature, and red for the life force. The blue stripe stands for eternal night and for water as a fundamental source of life."

That same source says that the twelve stars stand for the zodiac, but there seems to be some dispute about that.

[hhEb09'1]

I guess I was waiting for affirmation, sorry.

What flag is not rectangular, but consists of two "stacked" triangles?

[Paracelsus]

Nepal's flag?

Ok, here's one: Which flag consists of a broad, diagonal white stripe (going from the top left corner to the bottom right corner) on a red background?

[hhEb09'1]

Nepal's flag?Of course. And your question is already. :)

Ok, here's one: Which flag consists of a broad, diagonal white stripe (going from the top left corner to the bottom right corner) on a red background?The Brazilian state of Pará (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Par%C3%A1)? But it also has a blue star.

...and...it has a rough connection to your username...hmmmmm

[Paracelsus]

It is the international Scuba diver down flag! http://www.dive-flag.com/

That one was a bit obscure, I know, but hubby and I are thinking about getting our scuba certs, so it came to mind.

Here's one that should be easy: which flag has a fingernail moon and a tree (both in white) on a deep-blue background?

[Doctor Know]

It is the international Scuba diver down flag! http://www.dive-flag.com/

That one was a bit obscure, I know, but hubby and I are thinking about getting our scuba certs, so it came to mind.

Here's one that should be easy: which flag has a fingernail moon and a tree (both in white) on a deep-blue background?

Guess it was easy if I got it. South Carolina with the Palmetto Tree? :)

[Paracelsus]

Yes! :clap: :)

I grew up in Columbia and Greenville, SC.

[Doctor Know]

Yes! :clap: :)

I grew up in Columbia and Greenville, SC.

I remember seeing the South Carolinian flag in a book as a kid and being struck by the stark uniqueness of it. Looks almost like an Arab country's flag. :)

Here's an easy one for the Aussies...or anyone else. What is Australia's only territory to have a flag without the Union Jack on it?

[Paracelsus]

There appear to be two: Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory according to this site: http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/state.html

[Doctor Know]

Well...you got me there. I was waiting on the Northern Territory, but I'll take both. Looks like they both along with Victoria sport the Southern Cross. :)