Flags - Historical, Obscure & Alternative

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Ross_flag
America’s first flag or the Betsy Ross flag, is a beauty. It makes me feel patriotic and nostalgic.

Sary wrote:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_Ross_flag
America’s first flag or the Betsy Ross flag, is a beauty. It makes me feel patriotic and nostalgic.

The Betsy Ross flag was very pretty. I'm glad that they adopted it. Cuba's flag has the similar aesthetics.

The thin blue line flag represents support for law enforcement.  It is a black and white version of the American flag, with a blue stripe (line) under the stars.
This flag has always been controversial, some people say the alterations violate flag code and it is disrespectful and a desecration to Old Glory. Others say it is symbol of white supremacy and racial divide.
I am seeing it more often, sometimes flown in the opposite direction.

The Flag of Germany

Compiled from Wikipedia:



When Heinrich XI, Prince Reuss of Greiz was appointed by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor to rule the then-new Principality of Reuss-Greiz on 12 May 1778, the flag adopted by the Fürstentum Reuß-Greiz [below] was the first-ever appearance of the black-red-gold tricolour in its modern arrangement in any sovereign state within what today comprises Germany.



The flag was first adopted as the national flag of modern Germany in 1919, during the Weimar Republic, until 1933. Since the mid-19th century, Germany has had two competing traditions of national colours, black-red-gold and black-white-red. Black-red-gold were the colours of the 1848 Revolutions, the Weimar Republic of 1919–1933 and the Federal Republic (since 1949). They were also adopted by the German Democratic Republic [East Germany] (1949–1990), albeit, since 1959, with an additional 'socialist' coat of arms:



During the Napoleonic Wars, the German struggle against the occupying French forces was significantly symbolised by the colours of black, red, and gold, which became popular after their use in the uniforms of the Lützow Free Corps, a volunteer unit of the Prussian Army. This unit had uniforms in black with red facings and gold buttons. The colour choice had pragmatic origins, even though black-red-gold were the former colours used by the Holy Roman Empire. Members of the corps were required to supply their own clothing: in order to present a uniform appearance it was easiest to dye all clothes black. Gold-coloured buttons were widely available, and pennons used by the lancers in the unit were red and black. At the time, the colours represented:

"Out of the blackness of servitude through bloody battles to the golden light of freedom."

As the members of this unit came from all over Germany and included a modest but well known number of university students and academics, the Lützow Free Corps and their colours gained considerable exposure among the German people.

Black-red-gold is the official flag of the Federal Republic of Germany. As an official symbol of the constitutional order, it is protected against defamation. According to §90 of the German penal code, the consequences are a fine or imprisonment up to five years.

The Christian Flag is an ecumenical flag designed in the early 20th century to represent all of Christianity and Christendom. Since its adoption by the United States Federal Council of Churches in 1942 it has been used by many Christian traditions including the Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Quaker and Reformed among others. Africa and the Americas are regions of the world where the flag remains popular.

The flag has a white field, with a red Latin cross inside a blue canton. The shade of red on the cross symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary. The blue represents the waters of baptism as well as the faithfulness of Jesus. The white represents Jesus' purity. [Wikipedia]

I had a go at designing an alternative Christian flag (below). This one has the cross with the Chi-Rho symbol in the top left. The colours: white for the Father, red for the Son (blood of Christ) and light blue for the Holy Spirit.

I like your Christian flag, the colors are very pleasing and the Chi-Rho gives it a Catholic feel.  If it were a Roman Catholic flag, the color red would represent The Holy Ghost and blue The Blessed Mother.
Years ago, in Catholic countries, mothers would dress their baby girls in the color blue to honor Mary.  Nowadays we associate pink for girls and blue for boys.

I can understand why you chose blue to represent the Holy Spirit, that shade reminds me of the heavens.

It was bothering me so I researched, why I often see the American flag flown or displayed backwards...

History of the Backward Flag
Basically, the idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-is-the-u-s-flag-worn-backwards-on-army-uniforms-3357002

Moving forward is a good direction to go!

Sary wrote:I like your Christian flag, the colors are very pleasing and the Chi-Rho gives it a Catholic feel.  If it were a Roman Catholic flag, the color red would represent The Holy Ghost and blue The Blessed Mother.
Years ago, in Catholic countries, mothers would dress their baby girls in the color blue to honor Mary. Nowadays we associate pink for girls and blue for boys.

I can understand why you chose blue to represent the Holy Spirit, that shade reminds me of the heavens.

I knew blue was associated with Our Lady in the Catholic Church but not that red stood for the Holy Ghost. I wonder if all the different Christian denominations will ever be united?

It was bothering me so I researched, why I often see the American flag flown or displayed backwards...

History of the Backward Flag
Basically, the idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-is-the-u-s-flag-worn-backwards-on-army-uniforms-3357002

Moving forward is a good direction to go!

That arrangement makes sense. The convention is that the left side of a flag is the front, but obviously it depends which way you're marching!

The United Kingdom flag:



And what it looks like 'underneath' the English Cross of St. George:



The reason the red Cross of St. Patrick (representing Ireland) is half cut away and arranged unevenly is explained by this correspondent to the Guardian newspaper (from a web page):

"When St. Patrick's cross was added to the original Union Flag in 1801, if it had simply been put on top of the white diagonals of [the Scottish] St Andrew's cross it would have looked as though the white was merely a border around the red. This was considered unacceptable by the designers and St. Patrick's cross was offset to give more prominence to St Andrew's cross as it was part of the original flag, and Scotland was seen as a more senior partner in the Union" - Danny Farquhar, Thurso, Scotland

If Scotland left the Union, the Irish (Northern Irish now) cross could occupy its position in full and, if the blue background (field) was kept, the flag would then look like this:



Keeping the blue field could be justified by the facts that the blue of the official Scottish flag is a lighter shade and that England in the 1600s had a blue field for one of its naval ensign flags:



If Northern Ireland left to form a united Ireland, the UK would go back to being the Kingdom of Great Britain with the historic King's Colours flag:



If both Scotland and Northern Ireland left England, then, technically, the remaining country would simply be England with the Cross of St. George flag, but I think it would probably be called Britain with a new flag which would include Wales. The simplest design for that would be to place the English cross over the Welsh Cross of St. David:

I like the colors and design of the Catholic flag, the gold and white look some how ethereal.



Mark Twain’s redesign of the American flag is dark, with an interesting history.



https://truthbombtrails.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/a-veterans-day-reminder-from-mark-twain-or-the-war-prayer/
https://esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/mark-twain-philippine-flag-a00289-20200827

I see what you mean about the Vatican flag. Yellow/gold and white don't normally go well together but they suit the identity of that flag.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Vatican_City
I didn't know about about Mark Twain's version of the U.S. flag. It would make a good flag for a country established by pirates  



Which of these red rose flags do you like most and least?

I like D the best and C the least.
The stripe of blue at the bottom is interesting...like cool water.

Sary wrote:I like D the best and C the least.
The stripe of blue at the bottom is interesting...like cool water.

The white one is the traditional flag of my county, Lancashire, but when they tried to register it about twelve years ago it was denied because the town of Montrose in Scotland already had an official flag of the same design. So instead they registered the rose-on-yellow design taken from the coat of arms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire#/media/File:Arms_of_Lancashire_County_Council.svg

The other three are my designs for an alternative Lancashire flag. The black and white colours represent the historic coal and cotton industries of the county and on Flag D, just as you thought, the blue represents the waterways - rivers and canals. I feel like starting a campaign to change the flag because the yellow one just doesn't look good enough due to the colour clash. Our rival county, Yorkshire, now has a more attractive flag and that will never do!

I didn’t realize that the rose-on-yellow was the official flag of Lancashire. Now that I think about it, you may have posted the flag somewhere.
Yes, the color combination is a bit harsh, it makes me feel anxious. The white background is more pleasing to the eye and the blue and black stripes add meaning as well as interest....very nice.
I like this design of the rose better, the star in the center of the flower looks somehow unnatural.


Your part of England has such a rich history, it is no wonder that you are proud to be a native.
I see Lancashire Day is right around the corner, November 27th   : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire_Day

Sary wrote:Your part of England has such a rich history, it is no wonder that you are proud to be a native.
I see Lancashire Day is right around the corner, November 27th   : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire_Day

I must admit, I'd forgotten about Lancashire Day - it doesn't seem to have really caught on yet and the lockdown will have conspired against any planned celebrations too. But thanks for reminding me - next year I'll make sure the occasion is celebrated.