As the
above picture of the Cuban Flag indicates the overall
background is tricolor of red, white and blue
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Cuban flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
Further
symbolism is associated with the colors of the Cuban flag
The Meaning
& History of the Cuban Flag.
The colors represent the following:
Blue stripes
refer to the three old divisions of the island
White to the
strength of the independent ideal
Red triangle
stands for equality, fraternity and freedom and the blood split
in the struggle for independence
The lone
star symbolizes the absolute freedom among the Cuban people
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Cuban flag is
described as Triangle 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 Cuban 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 red equilateral triangle
bearing a white, five-pointed star in the center
The flag
field consists of five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and
bottom) alternating with white
The Cuban
flag was adopted on May 20, 1902
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
Cuban
Flag Etiquette
Cuban 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 Cuban as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Cuban
State Flag of Cuban
Military Flag of
Cuban (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Cuban
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Cuban Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Cuban 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 Cuban flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Cuban should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Cuban flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Cuban, 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 Cuban Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Cuban flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Cuban flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Cuban flag to the top, then lowering the
Cuban Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Cuban flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Cuban flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Cuban flag
The Cuban 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 Cuban
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
Cuban flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Cuban
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 Cuban Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Cuba
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West,
Florida
Land Size of
Cuba : 110,860 sq km
Cuban Climate / Weather : tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season
(November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Cuba was first
inhabited by Native American Indians
Discovered
by Christopher Columbus in 1492
Colonised by
the Spanish in the 1500's
1810 -
Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
The Cuban
struggle for independence culminated with the 1898
Spanish-American War which resulted in Cuban Independence form
Spain
The USA
adopted limited occupation in Cuba up to 1902 but this ended in
1934
In 1959
Fidel Castro led a Communist revolution and the rebel army
overthrew the Cuban president Fulgencio Batista
In 1961 a
Cuban Communist State was set up with Russian backing
January 1,
1959 Cuban Revolution - Fidel Castro assumes power
December 19,
1960 Cuba openly aligns itself with the Soviet Union and their
policies
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS TIMELINE
The
1960's Cuban Missile Crisis was one of the most perilous periods in World
History and the following Cuban Missile Crisis Timeline has been
provided reflecting the momentous importance of these events...
January 3,
1961 The U.S. terminates diplomatic relations
April 17,
1961 "The Bay of Pigs" - A group of Cuban exiles, backed
by the US, invades Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in a failed attempt
to trigger an anti-Castro rebellion
June 3-4,
1961 Khrushchev and Kennedy hold summit talks in Vienna
regarding the Cuban Missile Crisis
August 31,
1962 Senator Kenneth Keating tells the Senate that there is
evidence of Soviet missile installations in Cuba
September
11, 1962 Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko, warns that an
American attack on Cuba could mean war with the Soviet Union
October 14
1962 - A U-2 flying over western Cuba obtains photographs
of missile sites
October 14 -
17 1962 The Joint Chiefs of Staff strongly advise Kennedy to
make an air strike ( the discussions are referred to as the EX-COMM's
)
October 18,
1962 Gromyko assures Kennedy that Soviet Cuban aid has been
only for the "defensive capabilities of Cuba."
October 22,
1962 Congressional leaders are shown the photographic evidence
of the Soviet missile Cuban installations and the President addresses
the nation regarding the Cuban crisis
October 22,
1962 U.S. military forces go to DEFCON 3
October 23,
1962 Kennedy receives a letter from Khrushchev in which
Khrushchev states that there is a, "serious threat to peace and
security of peoples."
October 23,
1962 Robert Kennedy speaks with Ambassador Dobrynin
October 24,
1962 Soviet ships, en route to Cuba, reverse their course except
for one
October 24,
1962 Military forces go to DEFCON 2
October 25,
1962 Kennedy sends a letter to Khrushchev placing the
responsibility for the crisis on the Soviet Union
October 26,
1962 Khrushchev sends a letter to Kennedy proposing to remove
his missiles if Kennedy publicly announces never to invade Cuba
October 27,
1962 An American U-2 is shot down over Cuba killing the pilot,
Major Rudolf Anderson
October 27,
1962 A U-2 strays into Soviet airspace, near Alaska, and is
nearly intercepted by Soviet fighters
October 27,
1962 Kennedy sends Khrushchev a letter stating that he will make
a statement that the U.S. will not invade Cuba if Khrushchev
removes the missiles from Cuba
October 28,
1962 Khrushchev announces over Radio Moscow that he has agreed
to remove the missiles from Cuba
So ends
Cuban Missile Crisis and the
most perilous period in World History and the terrifying
possibility of a Nuclear War
1991 -
the collapse of the Soviet Union
Cuba adjusts to new
Cuban political reforms
THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS TIMELINE
"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
Cuban Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Cuba and the
Cuban Missile Crisis & Timeline 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!
