As the
above picture of the Belgium Flag indicates the background is
tri-color - Black, Yellow and Red
The description of
the Belgian Flag is as follows:
Three equal
vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Belgium flag represent the
following:
Yellow - a
symbol of generosity
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Black -
Determination
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The flag ratio of the Belgium flag is
very unusual and described as 13:15
The Meaning
& History of the Belgium Flag - The Belgium
flag and its vertical design was based on
the flag of France. The colours of the Belgium flag were taken
from the colours of the Duchy of Brabant. The Duchy of Brabant
came into existence in 1190 and once formed a Belgian province
also known as Brabant
The flag was
adopted January 23 1831
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
Belgium
Flag Etiquette
Belgium 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 Belgium as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Belgium
State Flag of
Belgium
Military Flag of
Belgium (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Belgium
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Belgium Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Belgium 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 Belgium flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Belgium should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Belgium flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Belgium, 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 Belgium Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Belgium flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Belgium flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Belgium flag to the top, then lowering the
Belgium Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Belgium flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Belgium flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Belgium flag
The Belgium 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 Belgium
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
Belgium flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Belgium
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 Belgium Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Belgium
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea,
between France and the Netherlands
Population of
Belgium : 10,348,276 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Capital City of
Belgium : Brussels
GDP of Belgium :
$298.2 billion (2003 est.)
Main Industries :
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles,
glass, petroleum
Main Colors of
Belgium Flag :
Black, Yellow and Red
Commonly
mis-spelt as Belgiam
The Celts and Ancient
Belgian History
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
Bermuda & its Flag
The earliest named
inhabitants of Belgium were the Belgae who were from Celtic
tribes
496 AD King Clovis
of the Franks founded a kingdom which included Belgium
768 The Carolingian
family began to rule the Frankish kingdom
800 Charlemagne was
made King of the Franks
843 Charlemagne's
three grandsons divided the Frank empire between themselves
900s - 1000's The
Carolingians lost most of their power and the following families
took control - Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut, Limburg, and Namur
1477
Maximilian of Austria married to Mary of Burgundy and Belgium
was brought under the rule of Austria
1506 1506
Maximilian's grandson, Charles the Bold, inherited the
Netherlands (which included present-day Belgium)
1516 Charles the
Bold inherited Spain
1519 Charles the
Bold became the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V
1555 Charles gave
up Belgium to his son, Phillip II
1566 The
Protestants in the country, led by William I, Prince of Orange,
rebelled against the Catholic Phillip who sent thousands of
Spanish soldiers to put down the rebellion
1648 The conflict
between Belgium and Spain finally came to an end when Spain
recognized the independence of the Netherlands ( which included
Belgium )
1713 Belgium came
under the rule of Austria
1769 Napoleon
Bonaparte is born in Corsica (1769-1821)
1787 Henri Van der
Noot and Jan Vonck helped write a Declaration of Independence
1789 The Brabant
Belgium Revolution occurred defeating the armies from Austria
January 1790
Belgians formed the independent state called the Etats Belgiques
Unis
End of 1790 Austria
regained control of the region
Early 1790s France
drove the Austrians out of the region
1797 Austria
surrendered to Napoleon
1797 Austria gave
up the Netherlands and Lombardy to France
1795 Belgium became a part of France
1814 April 6
Napoleon had to give up his throne
1815 After Napoleon
was defeated the Congress of Vienna decided that Belgium,
Holland, and Luxembourg should be united
1821 Napoleon dies
1830 Belgium won
its independence from the Netherlands
1831 July 21
Belgium gains independence from Netherlands
1831 July 21
Leopold I made King of Belgium
1865 King Leopold
II sent explorers to Africa and establishes the Congo Free State
1908 The United
States forced the king to give control of the Congo to the
Belgium Parliament
1908 The Congo Free
State is called the Belgian Congo
1909 King Albert I
became the new King of Belgium
4 August 1914
Germany invade Belgium and by November Germany occupies all of
Belgium
1914-1918 World War
I
September 1918
Allied forces began the liberation of Belgium
10 May 1940 Germany
invades Belgium drawing them into World War II
1939 -1945 World War
II
September 1944
Allied forces liberated Belgium
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1951 Leopold gave
his crown to his son, Baudouin
1960 The Belgian
Congo obtains independence from Belgium
"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
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Flag and Nation of Bermuda
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Bermuda 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!
