Countries' Unique Flag Meanings

Bhutan's flag shows a yellow and orange background split diagonally. A giant white Druk, a major part of Bhutanese myth, appears. The Druk clutches a norbu, a jewel with magical wish-fulfilling properties, in each claw, showing the nation's wealth.Bhutan possesses magical wish-fulfilling properties.)

Orange and yellow colors show the two forces in Bhutanese life. Orange represents the nation's Buddhist spiritual tradition. Yellow honors the ruling dynasty and the Dragon King of Bhutan.The Dragon King of Bhutan..

Nepal has the only flag in the world that doesn't use a rectangular shape.Nepal's flag does not have a rectangular shape.The Nepalese flag uses two overlapping triangular pendants. These pendants may represent the Himalayan peaks. The flag's red coloring matches Nepal's national flower, the rhododendron. Blue outlines the design, showing harmony.

There are...Varying explanations exist.for Nepal's uniquely-shaped flag. The government states the triangles represent Hinduism and Buddhism, not mountains. The crescent moon in the top triangle shows tranquility and the cool shadow under the huge mountains. The sun shows the heat of Nepal's lowlands. The sun and moon also stand for the nation's aspirations toward longevity.People have aspirations toward longevity.Some desire to exist as long as the moon and the sun.

Not many flags show a lion that can strike you directly. Sri Lanka's flag features a saber-wielding lion, which represents the Sinhalese people and the nation's bravery and strength. The blade shows the country's sovereignty and will to fight for independence.the Sinhalese peopleand the bravery and strength of the nation's population.

The panel featuring the lion shows four bo leaves from the sacred fig tree. These bo leaves represent the four Buddhist virtues in Sri Lankan life: kindness, happiness, friendliness, and equanimity.

Sri Lanka's flag colors directlyThe flag honors the major ethnic groups.Orange shows the Sri Lankan Tamils, and green symbolizes the Sri Lankan Moors. Maroon, which forms the background for the large lion, represents the Sinhalese majority. The yellow border honors all other peoples with diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Americans may know Mexico's green, white, and red flag, but many do not see the eagle eating a snake. This image, from Mexico's coat of arms, honors an Aztec legend. Aztec people were told to settle where they saw an eagle eating a writhing snake on a cactus. The nomadic Aztecs supposedly saw this happen where they founded Tenochtitlan.Mexico founded Tenochtitlan., now Mexico City.

The flag's colors...Mexico holds great significance.Green symbolizes hope, showing the fertile soil. White means purity and the Roman Catholic religion. Red represents the blood shed for the nation's independence.

The Cambodian flag has two blue horizontal bands at the top and bottom. A red band runs across the center of the banner.The center of the banner features Angkor Wat.Angkor Wat is an ancient temple in Cambodia. It stands as one of the largest religious monuments in the world.

This flag is the only one depicting a real building. It shows how important Angkor Wat is to Cambodia's culture and history.

This flag shows three armored legs joined at the thigh in a circle. This design is based on the Celtic sun symbol.This symbol is known as the triskelion.The image is called the Legs of Man. It comes from the coat of arms of the Norse King of Mann.The image is based on the coat of arms of the Norse King of Mann.The title Norse King of Mann is a royal title held by several rulers from 1200 to 1500.

People adopted the Legs of Man to represent the Isle of Man on its flag in 1932. Before that, the country used the Union Jack as a British commonwealth member. Today, the Isle of Man's flag must fly lower on the mast than the Union Jack.

The Albanian flag uses a blood-red background and a black, double-headed eagle. This makes it stand out among bright colors and complex crests. The double-headed eagle is the heraldic symbol.The black, double-headed eagle is the heraldic symbol.Skanderbeg, the Albanian folk hero and warrior, used this symbol. He led a violent revolt against the Ottoman Empire. The revolt temporarily gained independence for the Albanians in the mid-1400s.

A folk belief says Albanians descend from eagles. The people sometimes call themselves Shqiptar, which means "Sons of the Eagle."

The Union Jack of the United Kingdom appears in the top left section of the Australian flag. Below it sits a large, seven-pointed star called the Commonwealth Star.The Commonwealth Star takes up the lower left section. Each point on the star shows the six original states plus one point for all of Australia's territories. The right side uses four Commonwealth stars and one five-pointed star to show the Southern Cross constellation in the night sky.The lower left quadrant holds the flag. Each point on the star shows the six original states plus one point for Australia's territories. The right half of the flag uses four Commonwealth stars and one five-pointed star to show the Southern Cross constellation visible in the night sky across the continent.

The Union Jack, which serves as a flag within this flag, is complex in itself.The crossed stripes mix three other flags: the red cross of St. George for England, the diagonal cross of St. Patrick for Ireland, and the diagonal white cross of St. Andrew for Scotland.The crossed stripes mix three other flags: the red cross of St. George for England, the diagonal cross of St. Patrick for Ireland, and the diagonal white cross of St. Andrew for Scotland.

Polynesian explorers settled the Samoan Islands about 2,000 years ago. Then, in the late 1800s, colonial powers split the islands into spheres of influence. The United States and Germany divided the islands in 1899. American Samoa remains an unincorporated territory today.

Until 1960, American Samoa used the Stars and Stripes. The territory created its own flag to evoke American symbolism.The flag uses red, white, and blue. It includes the American bald eagle. The eagle holds two Samoan power symbols in its talons: a fa'alaufa'i battle club and a fue coconut fiber fly-whisk. These represent America's guardianship over the territory.The American Samoa flag uses red, white, and blue, plus the American bald eagle. The flag's eagle grips two Samoan power symbols: a fa'alaufa'i battle club and a fue coconut fiber fly-whisk. These represent America's guardianship over the territory.

Austria's flag seems not unique. It models itself after blood-soaked clothing. The flag is possibly one of the oldest national flags still in use.The flag features two red horizontal bands at the top and bottom, with a white band across the center. Austrian legend says the design copies the tunic of Duke Leopold V after a violent battle during the third crusade.Austria still uses the flag. It has two red horizontal bands at the top and bottom, with a white band in the center. Austrian legend says the design copies Duke Leopold V's tunic after a fight during the third crusade. His white shirt...The shirt was soaked in gore.Leopold removed his belt, showing unstained fabric beneath.

This story inspired Austria's red and white flag for over 800 years.

This white and red flag honors.Gibraltar played a role in international diplomacy and conquest. The flag image shows a red castle. This symbolizes Gibraltar's fortress geography and honors the Rock of Gibraltar limestone ridge. A golden key below represents the nation's strategic importance as the key to the Mediterranean.Gibraltar uses the flag in diplomacy and conquest. The flag shows a red castle, symbolizing Gibraltar's fortress geography and honoring the Rock of Gibraltar limestone ridge. A golden key below it shows the nation's strategic importance as the Mediterranean's key.

The image also acts as Gibraltar's coat of arms. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted this to the country in 1502.

The Argentinian flag has two light blue bands with a white band in the middle. The design is said to represent the clear blue skies and snow-covered peaks of the Andes. The flag features a sun with a human face in the center. This image honors the Incan sun god, Inti, and pays tribute to the country's rich culture. It is also called the "Sun of May" for an event on May 25, 1810, where the sun broke through the clouds during a protest for independence.The Argentinian flag has two light blue bands with a white band in the middle. The design is said to represent the clear blue skies and snow-covered peaks of the Andes. The flag features a sun with a human face in the center. This image honors the Incan sun god, Inti, and pays tribute to the country's rich culture. It is also called the "Sun of May" for an event on May 25, 1810, where the sun broke through the clouds during a protest for independence.The Argentinian flag has two light blue bands with a white band in the middle. The design is said to represent the clear blue skies and snow-covered peaks of the Andes. The flag features a sun with a human face in the center. This image honors the Incan sun god, Inti, and pays tribute to the country's rich culture. It is also called the "Sun of May" for an event on May 25, 1810, where the sun broke through the clouds during a protest for independence.

Belize's flag has a blue background with thin red bands on the top and bottom edges. It also includes the country's coat of arms. The coat features a circle of mahogany leaves, a shield, and two men standing by a mahogany tree. The imagery honors Belize's rich logging industry, which led the English to settle there.Belize focuses on the logging industry.Belize settlers led the English to settle there.

The coat of arms motto reads, "Sub Umbra Floreo," meaning "I flourish in the shade." This flag is the only one showing human beings.

This southern African nation is one of only two countries globally.Mozambique's flag shows a gun.Mozambique's flag has much meaning, alongside Guatemala. The triangular section on the left features an AK-47, symbolizing resistance, independence, and the country's desire to.Mozambique defends its sovereignty by force.The AK-47 crosses a gardening hoe, showing the nation's agriculture. These symbols sit above a yellow star, representing Marxism's ideals and support for internationalism.

Five colors show country aspects. The green band shows the land's natural riches. Thin white bands stand for peace and freedom. Black honors the continent of Africa. A thick yellow band pays tribute to mineral resources. The red panel represents Mozambique's fight for independence.

Afghanistan has changed more in the last century than any other flag.The flag of Afghanistan keeps its black, red, and green colors across every version.Afghanistan's flag keeps its black, red, and green colors across every version. The latest version shows a white drawing of a mosque in the center, surrounded by flags and wheat sheaves. This image shows the nation's main religion, Islam, and its farming history.

The flag celebrates sovereignty. The solar Islamic calendar year 1298 appears below the mosque. This equals 1919 in the Gregorian calendar—the year Afghanistan gained independence.Afghanistan gained independence from British control.Afghanistan gained independence from British control. The central image also includes the Shahada, the Islamic belief, and the Arabic phrase, "God Is Great." The country's name appears in Arabic script on a scroll beneath the mosque.