Flag of Canadian - Description of the Canadian Flag
As the
above picture of the Canadian Flag indicates the overall color is red and
white
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Canadian flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The official
Canadian colours were proclaimed in 1921 by King George V
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Canadian flag is
described as Emblem - reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Canadian flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side )
is called the Hoist and red dominates half the width
The right
half of the flag is called the Fly and also features the
color red on half the width
The center
of the flag is a white square between the two vertical
bands of red
them;
The
emblem on the Canadian flag pictures
an 11-pointed red
maple leaf which is centered in the white square
The Meaning
& History of the Canadian Flag - The Maple Leaf emblem has
no specific significance other than what it depicts - a stylized
representation of a natural maple leaf
The National
Flag of Canada is popularly referred to as the Maple Leaf Flag
The French
name is l'Unifolié meaning the "the one-leaved"
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
Canadian
Flag Etiquette
Canadian 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 Canadian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Canadian
State Flag of
Canadian
Military Flag of
Canadian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Canadian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Canadian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Canadian 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 Canadian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Canadian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Canadian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Canadian, 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 Canadian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Canadian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Canadian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Canadian flag to the top, then lowering the
Canadian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Canadian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Canadian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Canadian flag
The Canadian 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 Canadian
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
Canadian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Canadian
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 Canadian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Canada
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west,
and the Arctic Ocean on the north
Canadian Land Size :
9,984,670 sq km
Canadian Climate / Weather : varies from temperate in south to subarctic and
arctic in north
Canadian Population : 32,507,874 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Capital City of
Canada : Ottawa
Canadian GDP :
$957.7 billion (2003 est.)
Canadian Main Industries :
transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed
minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products,
petroleum and natural gas
Currency of
Canada
: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Canadian Agricultural
products : wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables;
dairy products; forest products; fish
Main Colors of
Canada Flag : Red and White
Concise History of
the Canadian Flag
Canada used
the British Union Jack as its official national flag, prior to
Confederation
The Canadian
flag was designed by George Stanley and inspired by the Royal
Military College of Canada flag
The Canadian
flag was
officially proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II on February 15, 1965
February 15
has since been commemorated as National Flag of Canada Day
The word
Canada originated a Huron Iroquoian word - Kanata meaning
"village" which referred to the settlement of Stadacona which
was situated on the site of Quebec City
The first
people of Canada were the Native Americans and the Inuit
The Inuit
were believed to have originated from the Artic
The Vikings
travelled and settled to the Canadian land in the 1000's
Europeans,
notably the French, settled in Canada in the 1500's & 1600's
In the 1700'
the Canadian colony was passed to the British
In 1867 the
Dominion of Canada was formed and self-government was granted to
Ontario (formerly Upper Canada), Quebec (formerly Lower Canada),
New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia
1914 - 1918
WW1
In 1931
other British colonies and territories joined the confederation
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In 1982 the
Canadian constitution was adopted
"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 Canada
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Canadian Flag and Country of Canada 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!
