As the
above picture of the Bahamas Flag indicates the overall
colors are aquamarine blue , gold and black
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The meaning of the colors on the Bahamas flag represent the
following:
Gold -
the sands of the nation
Blue -
the waters that surround the Bahamas
Black -
the black triangle stands for unity
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Bahamas flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The lefthalf of the flag
( viewer's left side )
is called the Hoist and pictures a black equilateral triangle
that comes in from the left edge of the flag
The flag
features three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine blue (top),
gold and aquamarine blue
The national
flag of Bahamas was adopted on July 10, 1973
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
Bahamas
Flag Etiquette
Bahamas 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 Bahamas as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Bahamas
State Flag of
Bahamas
Military Flag of
Bahamas (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Bahamas
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Bahamas Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Bahamas 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 Bahamas flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Bahamas should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Bahamas flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Bahamas, 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 Bahamas Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Bahamas flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Bahamas flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Bahamas flag to the top, then lowering the
Bahamas Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Bahamas flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Bahamas flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Bahamas flag
The Bahamas 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 Bahamas
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
Bahamas flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Bahamas
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 Bahamas Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Bahamas
Location:
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North
Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Land Size of
Bahamas : 13,940 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Bahamas : tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf
Stream
Population of
Bahamas : 299,800
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Capital City of
Bahamas : Nassau
GDP of Bahamas :
$5.099 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and
transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals,
spiral-welded steel pipe
Main Colors of
Bahamas Flag :
blue , gold and black
Concise History of
the Bahamas & its Flag
The Ciboney, Arawak
and the Carib
Indians first inhabited the islands
The Caribs
and the Arawaks were tropical forest people who probably
originated in South America and were related the people found
anywhere from Panama to Brazil
Not
discovered by Europeans until 1492 when Christopher Columbus
first landed in the New World
Before the
arrival of the Spanish the Carib males had a justified
reputation as the most feared warriors of the Caribbean
The Caribs
and the Arawaks were progressively wiped out by the
after-effects of the Spanish conquest, with the more peaceful
Arawak tribes suffering the greater losses
The British
settled on the islands in the 17th century
It was made
a British colony in 1783
1914 - 1918
WW1
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Arawakan and
Cariban words such as avocado, barbecue, buccaneer, canoe,
cannibal, hurricane, iguana and maize have become part of the
English language
The Bahamas
became independent in 1973
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
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A useful Educational Resource
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The
Flag and Nation of the Bahamas
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of the Bahamas has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge
of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations
Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
