Almost all nations in the world has a flag or banner representing them. A flag is one of the most unique traits of a country. A country's flag stands for its culture, history, and people.

What is a Flag

A flag is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed, and flags have evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification, especially in environments where communication is challenging (such as the maritime environment, where semaphore is used). The study of flags is known as "vexillology" from the Latin vexillum, meaning "flag" or "banner".

A flag, however it is defined, can be hoisted, hung over a balcony, framed, used as an altar cloth, or a coffin shroud, or draped over a podium, or displayed hanging from a cross bar or against a wall, etc, etc. The method of display has no relevance to its intrinsic existence as a flag. While the design of the flag is a permanent feature, the method of display is adapted to circumstance.

A flag is primarily a method or symbol of identification. All other uses are additional to this basic purpose. Flags, particularly national flags, are prone to becoming the objects of veneration, love, hate, pride and every other relevant human emotion. Meanings can also be arbitrarily assigned to flags, which have nothing to do with its design, or however it is defined. These emotions and meanings are the baggage flags tend to pick up during their active existence and is once again irrelevant to the basic definition of what a flag actually is. We have seen the same kind of pride, veneration and meaning attached to the Eagles of the Roman legions and they can at best be defined as vexilloids.

When the First Flag was Recorded

For most countries, the date their flag was adopted is obvious, but for others it is disputable. The exact date or year of each country’s flag adoption may be unknown or debated because of design changes. Flags recognizable as such were almost certainly the invention of the ancient peoples of the Indian subcontinent or what is now China. It is said that the founder of the Zhou dynasty in China (1046–256 BCE) had a white flag carried before him, and it is known that in 660 CE a minor prince was punished for failing to lower his standard before his superior.

Some of the other oldest flags in the world include that of European countries. The Flag of Scotland originated in 832 AD, during a battle fought in the dark ages. It is known as Europe’s oldest flag. Often referred to as The Scotland Saltire, Saltire, or St Andrew's Cross, the Flag of Scotland uses an azure background.

Another one of the oldest flags in the world, the Flag of Latvia was first mentioned in medieval chronicle called the Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia in 1280. Denmark's current design of a white Scandinavian cross on a red background was officially adopted in 1307 or earlier. The Flag of Denmark also holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously used national flag. The current design of a white Scandinavian cross on a red back ground was adopted in 1625 and its square shape in 1748. In Denmark it is known as the 'Dannebrog' or 'Danish cloth'. Although Denmark was never part of the Roman Empire, similar designs were used by the Empire to represent provinces, as the white cross is symbolic of Christianity. The Scandinavian cross has its horizontal stripe slightly to the left hand side of the square as you face it.

Flags can be Portraits of a Country’s Historical Past

For example, the American flag still has 13 red and white stripes, signifying the original 13 colonies. Some flags of the world follow this historical pattern, as well. Many countries have their flags split into quadrants that contain parts of other counties’ flags, particularly if the now-independent country was once a colony. For instance, the Australian flag has its own design, but a corner is reserved for the British flag.

Flags have been raised in times of battle, but sometimes countries will use a different flag for battle than they do in peacetime. Some countries will take their coat of arms off the flag design in peacetime, because a coat of arms usually stands for a strong military presence. Actually, flags were most likely developed long ago as something army men could recognize as their own during a war. During war, when the air is clouded with dust, soldiers had trouble staying with their group. Looking up in the sky, a soldier could see his country’s flag waving through the air, then get back with his fellow soldiers.

Flags originally were used mainly in warfare, and to some extent they have remained insignia of leadership, serving for the identification of friend or foe and as rallying points. They are now also extensively employed for signaling, for decoration, and for display. Because the usefulness of a flag for purposes of identification depends on its blowing out freely in the wind, the material that is preferred is usually light and bears a device or pattern identical on both sides. Wording therefore tends to be excluded, and the simpler patterns are favoured. Any colours or devices may be used, but European usage normally follows the practice of heraldry in discouraging the juxtaposition of “metal” and “metal” (i.e., of yellow and white) or of colour and colour without “metal” interposed. The flag of the Vatican city-state constitutes an exception to that rule.