Flags are one of the most recognisable symbols of any country.
They represent aspects of culture, government, and history. Flags can be used to show patriotism for a person’s homeland or to display pride in their nationality. But when did this start?
Have flags always around? We’ve got some interesting facts about flags that you may not know!
The Flags Were Created In China
Books have been around for a while, but flags were not. The first instance of people using flags was in ancient China.
They used them to communicate across long distances and relay messages from one place to the other, so they could be prepared when needed. People would wave their banners during parades or ceremonies as well, which is where we get some of our modern flag traditions from.
As mentioned, using flags to communicate has been around since the 1400s. It wasn’t until later that they began being used as pieces of artwork for decoration purposes in addition to communication ones.
According to the folks at Ultimate Flags, if you want to purchase one, there are good options available online. You may attempt to make one on your own if you are creative.
The First Flag Was Flown In The Battle Of Dyrrhachium
In the early 1400s, a flag was used by the Venetians during one of their battles. The battle took place in what is present-day Greece, and it was called Dyrrhachium. It’s not clear which side hoisted this first “flag” but we know that they did use fabric banners to communicate with each other on the battlefield.
The United Nations Flag Was Designed By A Chinese Student
The United Nations flag was created in 1946, and it’s one of the most recognised flags around today. The design is attributed to a Chinese student named Zhong Yuan, but he never got credit for the design until 2012 when his son came forward with some information about what had happened.
Zhong used four big blue stripes on each side of the flag to represent four major colours (or continents) of the world. He then used white stripes in between each colour for peace and neutrality.
The Most Expensive Flag In The World Ever Made
The most expensive flag in the world belongs to Qatar. The country had it made for their 2022 FIFA World Cup that they are hosting, and it cost them over $68,000! It weighs about 700 pounds, which are also pretty heavy too.
However, while this may be one of the more pricey flags out there on today’s market, they’ve been around for a long time and have become more affordable over the years.
In 2006, an American man purchased a flag that was flown during the Battle of Iwo Jima for $640,000. That is believed to be the most anyone has ever paid for a flag, and it’s also one of only 15 flags from this battle that still exist today.
The Oldest Surviving Flag Is From Denmark
There are records of American ships carrying Danish flags during their travels between 1754 and 1807. The design on this one has white crosses all over a red background, with an orange border around each cross.
The flag is currently at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen, and it’s managed by the Department of Middle Ages, Renaissance, and New Age Art.
Flags are really interesting to learn about, and they make excellent decor items or conversation pieces. They’ve been around for a very long time, but the design has changed over the centuries, especially when it comes to modern flags like those used by countries today!
