I don't why I was thinking about flags yesterday but I was. Then this appeared in The Age newspaper today.
Everyone knows the Stars and Stripes.
I suggest the third most recognisable flag would be a toss up between these two flags. Both are distinctive, Canada with its maple leaf and Japan with its simple and striking red dot design.
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For me the flag of Lebanon is instantly recognisable with its cedar tree.
But I doubt there is another world flag I would recognise. Can I even tell the Australian and New Zealand flag apart? This is the Aussie flag. All pics are from Wikipedia.
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Ah, the Kiwi flag has red stars representing the Southern Cross star constellation and doesn't have the large star with each point representing a state and a territory as the Australian flag does. It is bit weird that Australia has an extra star in the Southern Cross. I could investigate I suppose, but my interest in flags is flagging.
It IS weird that Australia gives the Southern Cross an extra star. I think it's probably more astronomically accurate! The Kiwis went for minimalism.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know Steve. I've never recognised the Southern Cross in the sky. Our big city bright lights kill stars.
DeleteI think ours is the Union Jack for the United Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteNow I remember Jay Cee. Cross of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick? What about Wales?
DeleteSt. David
DeleteI suspect it depends on what part of the world you call home which flags are most easily recognisable. That said, the Lebanese flag is a stand out.
ReplyDeleteEC, after looking at tennis players today, I wondered what country was Ned? It is Netherlands. I kind of recognised its flag. I guess Europeans know flags quite well in their own part of the world.
DeleteWe had a flag question at the pub quiz on Sunday night and my friend Mick got the answer. The question went something like this - Which country's flag has these Latin words upon it - "Ordem e Progresso"?
ReplyDeleteI won't tell, you can look it up Andrew!
YP, you have reminded me of some body hair maintenance that is overdue.
DeleteFun post, Andrew. The Australian and Kiwi flag are really similar.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. Our British origins can't be denied, but we need a new flag more appropriate to our nation.
DeleteSheldon Cooper knows his flags lol
ReplyDeleteRoetare, I guessed Cooper was from tv but I don't watch such shows. R does though and I can't help but obtain knowledge, so I know who Sheldon is.
DeleteI remember at some point in my education being required to memorise so many flags. I have no idea why they thought this necessary. Unless I was going to play in Mr Ps pub quiz.
ReplyDeleteCaro, I don't remember being taught about flags, but that doesn't mean I wasn't. We learnt so much irrelevant and useless things at school.
DeleteThe flags that have only one main colour, with a central symbol or block in a second colour, stand out as memorable. Japan, Canada, Israel, China etc are crystal clear and attractive. USA's is a mess.
ReplyDeleteHels, the US flag is certainly messy but I think it would be quite meaningful to US citizens. How could it be reinvented?
DeleteI really like the Canadian flag and the Lebanon flag.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, you are so right. Our and yours are complicated beasts. The two you mention are not.
DeleteI remember having to memorise flags of the world when in the Girl Guides. That was a very long time ago….and apart from being part of a test to get a badge I’ve no idea why.
ReplyDeleteThe Aus Open puts a flag next to competitors names - half the time I have no idea where there from
Cathy, I won't lower myself to remarking how long ago that was when you memorised flags. Isn't there a three letter abbreviation next to the flag? I struggled to today, well had to Google it, that Ned is Netherlands.
DeleteI have a mini atlas, "The Times Compact Atlas Of The World" which is quite old and has about twenty pages of flags from all countries, A-Z, some of which no longer exist. Either taken over by other countries, split into smaller countries, or just had name changes, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAh River. You really need a modern atlas for eastern Europe. What were the Check borders and what is now Cheque? As you may note, I know nothing, least of all spelling.
DeleteCzech. and I would have to put both atlases side by side to be able to work out those new borders. With a magnifying glass.
DeleteEdit* "some which no longer exist as shown in the original giant Times Atlas" Confusing? The giant Times Atlas has countries that aren't in the mini atlas, for instance Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka and many of the African states have different names now and so on.
ReplyDeleteWasn't it a long time ago when Ceylon became Sri Lanka, like in the 60s? As we are flying with Sri Lankan airlines to England later this year, I note Srilanka can be one word. Keeping up with Africa names is impossible.
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