Flag of Singapore facts for kids
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| Use | National flag    |
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| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted |
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| Design | A horizontal bicolour of red and white; charged in white in the canton with a crescent facing the fly and a pentagon of five stars representing the nation's ideals. |
The flag of Singapore is a very important symbol for the country. It was first used in 1959 when Singapore became a self-governing state within the British Empire. This means it could make its own decisions, but was still connected to Britain. The flag then became the official national flag when Singapore became fully independent from Malaysia on August 9, 1965.
The flag has two horizontal stripes: red on top and white on the bottom. In the top-left corner, there is a white crescent moon and five small white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle. These symbols show that Singapore is a young country growing stronger. They also represent ideas like everyone being equal and working together.
The rules for using and showing the national flag in Singapore are set by the National Symbols Act. This law says that people should always treat the flag with respect. During special times like National Day celebrations, some rules are relaxed, making it easier for people to show their pride.
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History of the Singapore Flag
Singapore was once under British rule in the 1800s. It was part of a group called the Straits Settlements, which also included Malacca and Penang. The flag used for these settlements was a British flag with a special design on it.
Singapore itself did not have its own flag back then. However, the city was given a special symbol, called a coat of arms, which featured a lion in 1911. During Second World War, when Japan took over Singapore, the Japanese national flag was used.
After the war, Singapore became a "Crown colony," meaning it was directly ruled by the British King or Queen. It then got its own flag, which was a changed version of the Straits Settlements flag. It had only one crown instead of three.
Singapore became self-governing on June 3, 1959. Six months later, on December 3, 1959, the national flag was officially adopted. At the same time, Singapore also got its own state coat of arms and national anthem, Majulah Singapura ("Onward Singapore").
Toh Chin Chye, who was a deputy prime minister, helped create the flag. He said in an interview that they needed a flag to bring all the different people in Singapore together. He wanted the flag to be a symbol of Singapore, flown alongside the British flag.
The flag's design took two months to complete. Toh Chin Chye first wanted the flag to be all red. But the government leaders decided against this because red was sometimes linked to communism. Toh also worried that a red and white flag would look too much like the flags of Indonesia and Poland.
The flag originally had only three stars. But two more stars and a crescent moon were added later. This was done to make sure the flag was different from other symbols and to show that Singapore cared about its Malay-Muslim community. The Chinese majority wanted stars, like on the flag of the People's Republic of China. The Malay minority wanted a crescent moon to represent Islam. So, both symbols were combined to create the flag we see today.
In 1962, the people of Singapore voted to join Malaya, Sarawak, and North Borneo to form Malaysia. On September 16, 1963, the Malaysian flag was raised in Singapore. But when Singapore became fully independent from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, its own flag was again confirmed as the national flag.
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Flag for the Straits Settlements from 1874 to 1904 -
Flag for the Straits Settlements from 1904 to 1925 -
Flag for the Straits Settlements from 1925 to 1946 -
Flag for Singapore in the Straits Settlements from early 20th century -
Flag of the Crown colony of Singapore from 1946 to 1952 -
Flag of the Crown colony of Singapore from 1952 to 1959
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Understanding the Flag's Design
The National Symbols Act explains what each part of the flag means:
- Red stands for "universal fellowship and equality." This means that all people are equal and should work together.
- White stands for "pervading and everlasting purity and virtue." This means the country aims to be pure and good forever.
- The crescent moon represents a "young nation on the ascendant." This means Singapore is a new country that is growing and getting stronger.
- The five stars stand for the nation's ideals: "democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality." These are the important values Singapore wants to live by.
The flag's size is always two units high for every three units wide. This keeps its shape correct. The government recommends using a specific shade of red, called Pantone 032. The flag can be shown in any size, but it must always have these correct proportions and colors.
Rules for Using the Flag
The Singaporean government has rules about how the national flag should be used. It's important to always treat the flag with respect. For example, the flag should never touch the ground. It also should not be displayed below any other flag or object.
The national flag should always be in a place of honor. If it's displayed with other flags, it should be above them or to the left of them (when you are looking at the flags). When the flag is carried in a parade, it should be in front of other flags.
If the flag is displayed on a stage, it must be behind and above anyone speaking. If it's on a flagpole on the stage, it should be on the right side of the speaker. When the flag is hung on a wall, the crescent and stars should be in the top-left corner.
When the flag is outside a building, it should be on a flagpole. If it's flown at night, it should be lit up. You need special permission to display the flag on a car, unless it's for the President or a government minister on official business.
You also need permission to use the flag for business purposes or as part of decorations. It's not allowed to use the flag as part of a company's trademark. You also cannot add any words or pictures onto the national flag's design.
The government might ask for the flag to be lowered to half-mast when an important person dies or for national mourning. The flag cannot be used at private funerals. However, it can be placed on a coffin during a military or state funeral.
It's important that any flag displayed is clean and not damaged. If a flag is worn out or damaged, it should be put in a sealed black trash bag before being thrown away. This ensures it is disposed of respectfully.
Relaxed Rules for Flag Use
Originally, the flag could only be flown year-round on government buildings and schools. Individuals and other groups could only fly it during August, for National Day.
In 2004, these rules were relaxed. People and non-government groups were allowed to fly the flag year-round under certain conditions. This change was made to encourage more national pride.
The rules were relaxed even more in 2006 and 2007. People could display the flag on vehicles or on their clothes and belongings from July to September. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was extended from April to September, but this was a temporary change.
In 2022, a new law called the National Symbols Bill was passed. This law gives more flexibility for how national symbols, including the flag, can be used. It took effect on August 1, 2023.
How the National Flag is Used
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National Day Celebrations
During National Day celebrations, which are from July 1 to September 30, Singaporeans are encouraged to display the flag outside their homes. Many neighborhoods organize group displays of the flag.
At the National Day Parade in 2007, a large group of volunteers held up red and white umbrellas to form a giant image of Singapore's flag. This was a huge display of national pride.
At Other Times
Outside of the National Day period, the national flag is flown on all government buildings, military bases, courts, offices, and schools. You will often see a picture of the flag in classrooms. Schools also have ceremonies where the flag is raised, the national anthem is sung, and the national pledge is recited.
The Singapore government announces when the flag should be lowered to half-mast. This happens when an important person dies or when the nation is mourning. For example, the flag was flown at half-mast for those who died in the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster and for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Different Types of Singapore Flags
Besides the main national flag, there are other flags used for specific official purposes.
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| The flag used by the President of Singapore is similar to the national flag. It has a red background with a larger crescent and stars in the center. This flag is flown at the Istana (the President's official residence) when the President is there. It is also used at special ceremonies and military parades to show the President's arrival. | |
| The State Marine Ensign was introduced in 1960. It is used on all non-military government ships, like those used by the Police Coast Guard. It is a blue flag with the national flag in the top-left corner and an eight-pointed red and white star in the bottom-right. The blue color represents the sea, and the eight-pointed star is like a mariner's compass. | |
| The Red Ensign of Singapore was introduced in 1966. It is used for civilian ships registered in Singapore. It is a red flag with a white circle in the center, which contains the crescent and five stars. This flag should be used by Singaporean ships instead of the national flag when they are entering or leaving a port. | |
| The Singapore Naval Force Ensign was introduced in 1967. It is used on all ships belonging to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). It is a white flag with the national flag in the top-left corner. It also has an eight-pointed red star in the bottom-right corner, which represents a mariner's compass. |
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See also
- List of Singaporean flags
- Armorial of Singapore
