Flag of Christmas Island facts for kids
The flag of Christmas Island is a special symbol for the island. It was chosen in 1986. A man named Tony Couch from Sydney, Australia, designed it.
What the Flag Means
Every part of the Christmas Island flag has a special meaning.
- The blue part shows the ocean that surrounds the island.
- The green part represents the many plants and trees on the island.
- The Southern Cross stars are in the blue section. They show that Christmas Island is connected to Australia. They also show its location in the southern part of the world.
- The bird on the flag is a Golden Bosun. This special bird lives only on Christmas Island.
- The yellow circle stands for the island's history of mining. Inside the circle, you can see a map of Christmas Island itself.
How the Flag Was Created
A Design Competition
In 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly decided to create a flag for the island. They held a competition for people to design a new flag and a coat of arms. The person who won would receive 100 Australian dollars!
About 69 different designs were sent in for the competition. Tony Couch, who lived in Sydney, won with his design. The Christmas Island Assembly announced his winning flag on April 14, 1986.
Becoming Official
The flag became the official flag of Christmas Island on January 26, 2002. This date is also Australia Day, a national holiday in Australia.
