The
Flag of Austria - Description of the Austrian Flag
As the
above picture of the Austrian Flag indicates the overall
background is Red and White
The description of
the Austrian Flag is as follows:
three equal
horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Austrian flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Austrian flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The Meaning
& History of the Austrian Flag - The Austrian
flag was adopted in the 1200's by
Frederick II Babenberg as Duke of Austria
The Civil Flag of
Austria was adopted on May 1, 1945
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Austrian
Flag Etiquette
Austrian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Austrian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Austrian
State Flag of
Austrian
Military Flag of
Austrian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Austrian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Austrian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Austrian should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Austrian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Austrian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Austrian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Austrian, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Austrian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Austrian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Austrian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Austrian flag to the top, then lowering the
Austrian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Austrian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Austrian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Austrian flag
The Austrian flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Austrian
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Austrian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Austrian
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Austrian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Austria
Location:
Central Europe, north of Italy and
Slovenia
Austrian Land Size : 82,444 sq km
Austrian Climate / Weather : temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with
frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains;
moderate summers with occasional showers
Austrian Population
: 8,174,762 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Austrian Capital
City: Vienna
Austrian GDP:
$245.5 billion (2003 est.)
Main Austrian Industries :
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals,
lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications
equipment, tourism
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence
of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient
culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries
including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various
tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi
by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common -
barbarian
It is from the greek Keltoi that
Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the
Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the
raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to
extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name
for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul
commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient
times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the
Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many
Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of
Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different
cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of
each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a
concise background to the Ancient Austrian civilisations
Concise History of
Austria & its Flag
700's
Austria came under the rule of Charlemagne, king of the Franks
900s The
Magyars from Hungary overran Austrian
955 Otto I
of Germany defeated the Magyars and Austria came under German
rule
962 Otto I
of Germany was crowned as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire
976 Otto II
gave North-eastern Austria to the Babenberg family
1242 The
last Babenberg duke died without an heir
1242 King
Ottokar of Bohemia gained control of the Austrian territory
1278 Holy
Roman Emperor Rudolf I of the Hapsburg family defeated King
Ottokar
1500s The
Ottoman Empire invaded Austria
1600s The
Ottomans were defeated and driven out of the Austrian region
1618 The
Protestants in Bohemia revolted against the Catholic Habsburg
emperor starting the Thirty Years' War
1648 The
Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and the
Habsburgs declared Roman Catholicism as the official Austrian
religion
1700 The
Habsburg king of Spain died
1701-1714
The War of Spanish Succession started between Austria and France
and Austria won Belgium and Spain's Italian lands
Late
1700s-1815 The Napoleonic Wars
1815
Napoleon was defeated
1859 Austria
declared war on Sardinia and were defeated by Italian and French
forces
1867 The
Dual-Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was established
1914
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, was
assassinated starting World War I
Austria
joined Germany in fighting the Allies
3 November
1918 World War I ended
12 November
1918 The last Habsburg Emperor was overthrown and Austria became
a republic
1938 German troops under the rule of Adolf Hitler seized Austrian
lands
and announced its union
September
1939 World War II starts
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1945 The
Allies of World War II defeated Germany
1945 As a
result of World War II Austrian territory was divided into American,
British, French, and Soviet Zones
1954 The
four powers ended their occupation of Austria
1 January
1955 Austria joined the European Union
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The
Austrian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Austrian Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
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