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~ Maniac's Library |
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Flags of the World United States: The national flag was named ”Old Glory” on Aug 10, 1831, by a Capt William Driver. Then, the first official national flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, was approved by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. In 1960, the 50-star flag (to signify the 50 states) became the official flag on July 4, the birthday of the Union. Britain: Officially called the Union Flag, the flag embodies the emblems of three countries united under one monarch. It is also commonly known as the Union Jack, although the exact origin of the name is unclear. One explanation is that it is from the “jack staff” of naval vessels (a small flagpole at the front of Royal Navy vessels) from which the original Union Flag was flown.
Japan: The Japanese flag is called Hinomaru (circle of the sun). The red circle on the white background symbolises the sun. In 1870 the Meiji government officially designated it for use on Japanese merchant and naval ships. It has never been officially designated as the national flag but became so by customary use.
Scotland: The national flag is called the “St Andrew’s Saltire”. It is one of the oldest national flags in the world, dating back to the 12th century. In 1286, the St Andrew’s Cross was first known to be a national emblem of Scotland (the seal of the guardians of Scotland).
Canada: The national flag is known as “The Maple Leaf”. The leaf was adopted as the Canadian emblem during the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1860. Prime Minister Lester Pearson was involved in the debate that resulted in the maple leaf becoming the Canadian flag.
Wales: Known as “The Red Dragon” (Y Ddraig Goch), the flag has been officially recognised since the 1950s. The Welsh dragon was used in the royal arms in the 15th century, but with the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England in 1605, when James VI (Scotland) became James I (England), the Welsh influence seemed to have disappeared. This was perhaps because, by this time, Wales was considered a part of England.
England: The “St George’s Cross” is England’s national flag, a red cross on a white field. The Church of England uses the cross of St George with the shield of arms of its diocese in the canton, although in practice many, when they fly the flag at all, fly the plain cross.
Indonesia: The Indonesian national flag is called Sang Saka Merah Putih. It is based on the flag of the Majapahit Empire in Java at the end of the 13th century.
Thailand: The Thai national flag, or the Thong Chat Thai, was re-fashioned by King Vajiravudh-Rama VI in 1917, replacing the white elephant on a red field standard with the contemporary tri-colour or Trairanga.
France:
Nicknamed Le drapeau tricolore, the French flag dates back to 1789:
In order to create good relations between the King and the city
of Paris, on the day Paris re-conquered its King, the colour white
(symbolising royalty) was associated with blue and red (colours
figuring in the arms of Paris).
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