Flag facts for kids

Flag of Turkey over the Bosphorus

A flag is a piece of coloured cloth with a special design that is put on a pole as a symbol.

Flags first appeared more than 2000 years ago in China, and in Europe under the Roman Empire.

There are many types of flags:

• A National Flag is the symbol of a country (nation). For example, the national flag of the United States is the Stars and Stripes; the flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Flag' or 'Union Jack; the national flag of France is the Tricolore and the national flag of Turkey has a crescent and star.

• An Ensign is a special type of national flag for use on ships. Different kinds of ships often use different kinds of ensigns. For example, warships use a naval ensign which is usually different from the ensigns used by other ships.

• A Rank Flag is used by the head of state, as well as by a senior officer of the navy, army or air force, to show where he or she is.

• In the past, soldiers carried beautiful flags to war. Today these ceremonial flags are used only at military parades.

• Some states, provinces, cities and towns have their own flags. For example, all 50 states within the United States have their own state flags.

• A Signal Flag is a flag used by ships to send messages to other ships or to people on land. Every ship keeps many different signal flags for use in different situations. Signal flags are also used for racing.

• Flags are sometimes also used to represent a business, a sports team, a school, a political party, or other organizations.

Images for kids

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  United Nations members' national flags

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  Setting up a flag could also possess the meaning of conquering something. Jaan Künnap with the flag of Estonia at the top of Lenin Peak (7,134 m [23,406 feet]) in 1989.

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  Bronze flag found in Shahdad, Iran, 3rd millennium BC

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  Sujagi of Eo Jae-yeon, captured in 1871

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  Flags at half-mast outside Central Plaza, Hong Kong, after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The Flag of Saudi Arabia is exempted.

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  Tribal flags at Meeting Place Monument/Flag Plaza at the Oklahoma State Capitol

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  The Danish national flag (Dannebrog) waving in Samsø

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  Ensigns are flown on boats to indicate the country of registration of the boat.

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  Vertical flags seen in Switzerland

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  Open swimming area

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  Closed swimming area

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  Red flag at a beach in Ireland, indicating that the water is not safe for swimming

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  One of the two 60-foot-tall flagpoles in the Siena Cathedral. During the battle of Montaperti (1260), Bocca degli Abati, a Sienese spy, brought Florence's flag down, causing panic among the Florentine soldiers and ultimately their defeat.

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  The former flagpole in Kew Gardens, taken shortly before its removal in 2007

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  Semaphore signals for the letters of the English alphabet

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  Poland (Gorzów Wlkp.). Religious flags

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  Flagpole of modest size, with simple truck

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  Large flagpole, showing structured truck (New Zealand)

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  New Caledonia has two flags, flown here in Nouméa, the capital city, on a single flagpole with a crossbar.

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  Dwajasthambam (flagpole) at Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

See also

In Spanish: Bandera para niños