National flag

A national flag is a flag which symbolises a country and which can usually be flown by citizens of that country.

Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses often fly the national flag. In some countries the national flags are only flown from non-military buildings on certain flag days.

Ships fly the national flag, known as the ensign, from an ensign-staff at the stern of the ship, or from a gaff when underway. Both these positions are superior to any other on the ship, even though the masthead is higher. In the absence of a gaff the ensign may be flown from the yard-arm. See Maritime flags.

National flags may also be flown by aircraft and the vehicles of important officials.

Table of contents

1 Flag Protocol
2 See also
3 External links

Flag Protocol

There is a great deal of protocol involved in the proper display of national flags. For example, national flags should never be flown upside down (where this is possible) except as a distress signal.

There are many regulations concerning the display of national flags, but the general rule is that the national flag should be flown in the position of honour, and not in an inferior position to any other flag (although some countries make an exception for royal standards). The following regulations are typical.

When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags, it must be hoisted first and lowered last.
When a national flag is displayed together with the national flags of other countries, all the flags should be of approximately equal size and must be flown at an equal height, although the national flag of the host country should be flown in the position of honour (in the centre of an odd number of flagstaffs or at the far right - left from an observer's point of view - of an even number of flagstaffs).
When a national flag is displayed together with flags other than national flags, it should be flown on a separate flagstaff, either higher or in the position of honour.
When a national flag is displayed together with any other flags on the same flagstaff, it must be at the top, though separate flagstaffs are preferable.
When a national flag is displayed together with any other flag on crossed staffs, the National Flag must be on the observer's left and its staff must be in front of the staff of the other flag.
When a national flag is displayed together with another flag or flags in procession, the National Flag must be on the marching right. If there is a row of flags, it should be in the position of honour.

External links

Flags of the World website contains images of national and other kinds of flags.

National flag
List of national flags \| Gallery of national flags
List of national coats of arms