A flag is a piece of coloured cloth with a special design that is put on a pole as a symbol .

Flags first appeared more than 2000 years ago in China , and in Europe under the Roman Empire . Flags also have meanings, the colors and the shapes they use. For example, the Japan flag has a white backgroud and a red circle in the middle. The red cirle is the red sun and the white background means honesty and purity. ^[1]

There are many types of flags: State

• A National Flag is the symbol of a country ( nation ). For example, the national flag of the United States is the Stars and Stripes ; the flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Flag' or 'Union Jack ; the national flag of France is the Tricolore and the national flag of Flag of Cyprus has an image of a map of its own country on its flag.
• An Ensign is a special type of national flag for use on ships . Different kinds of ships often use different kinds of ensigns. For example, warships use a naval ensign which is usually different from the ensigns used by other ships.
• A Rank Flag is used by the head of state , as well as by a senior officer of the navy , army or air force , to show where he or she is.
• In the past, soldiers carried beautiful flags to war . Today these ceremonial flags are used only at military parades .
• Some states , provinces , cities and towns have their own flags. For example, all 50 states within the United States have their own state flags .
• A Signal Flag is a flag used by ships to send messages to other ships or to people on land. Every ship keeps many different signal flags for use in different situations . Signal flags are also used for racing .
• Flags are sometimes also used to represent a business , a sports team, a school , a political party , or other organizations .

Related pages [ change | change source ]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags .

• Banner
• Ethnic flag
• Free Speech Flag
• Glossary of vexillology
• Pride flag
• Rainbow flag
• Rainbow flag (LGBT)

References [ change | change source ]