Flag of Croatian - Description of the Croatian Flag
As the
above picture of the Croatian Flag indicates the overall
tricolor background is red, white and blue
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Croatian flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Croatian flag is
described as Emblem -reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern of the red and white
checkered Croatian coat of arms
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Croatian flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The
emblem on the Croatian flag pictures the Croatian coat of
arms
The flag in
this form has been used since 1991
The Meaning
& History of the Croatian Flag - The Croatian emblem depicts
a red/white checkerboard coat of arms which has been a symbol of
Croatian kings for many centuries. The five crowning coats of
arms represent the originating regions:
Central
Croatia & the capital city Zagreb
Republic of
Dubrovnik
Dalmatia
Istria
Slavonia
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
Croatian
Flag Etiquette
Croatian 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 Croatian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Croatian
State Flag of
Croatian
Military Flag of
Croatian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Croatian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Croatian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Croatian 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 Croatian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Croatian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Croatian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Croatian, 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 Croatian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Croatian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Croatian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Croatian flag to the top, then lowering the
Croatian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Croatian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Croatian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Croatian flag
The Croatian 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 Croatian
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
Croatian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Croatian
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 Croatian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Croatia
Location:
South-eastern Europe, bordering the
Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Croatian Land Size : 56,542 sq km
Croatian Climate / Weather
: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate
predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry
summers along coast
Croatian Population : 4,496,869 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
N/A
Croatian Capital City : Zagreb
GDP of Croatia :
$47.14 billion (2003 est.)
Croatian Main Industries :
chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,
electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum,
paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles,
shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and
beverages; tourism
Main Colors of
Croatian Flag : Red, white and blue
The Slavs
The Slavic
people who were the most numerous ethnic group in Europe:
The 'West
Slavs' were the Poles, the Czechs and the Slovaks
The 'East
Slavs' consisted of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians
The 'South
Slavs' consisted of Bulgarians, Croats, Macedonians Serbs and
Slovenians
In the early
Middle Ages Slavs were often used as slaves which is possibly
the origin of the generic term 'Slavs'
Concise History of
Croatia & its Flag
Croatia was
part of the Roman Empire
Slavs
settled the region in the 7th century
In the 11th
& 12th century the nation of Hungary controlled Croatia
In 1463 the
Ottoman Turks conquered the region
In 1868,
Croatia gained domestic autonomy while remaining under Hungarian
authority
Following
World War I Croatia joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and
Slovenes which became Yugoslavia in 1929
World War II
- Croatia was named the Independent State of Croatia
The 1950's
saw the establishment of the Communist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito
Croatia
declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991
The Croatian national
flag was adopted in 1991
Inter-ethnic
Croatian civil strife for three years from 1992 until 1995 between the Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats
Peace
agreement was signed in Paris on December 14, 1995
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The
Flag and Nation of Croatia
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Croatia 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!
