Flag of Gibraltar - Description of the Gibraltar Flag
As the
above picture of the Gibraltar Flag indicates the background is
bi-color - Red and White
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Gibraltar flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Gibraltar flag is
described Emblem -reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
The Flag of
Gibraltar has two horizontal bands of white (top, double width)
and red with an emblem of a three-towered red castle in the
center of the white band
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Gibraltar flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The
emblem on the Gibraltar flag pictures
a three-towered red
castle in the center of the white band. Hanging from the castle
gate is a gold key which is centered in the red band
The Meaning
& History of the Gibraltar Flag
The Gibraltar emblem depicts
the
Gibraltan Coat of
Arms consisting of a triple-towered castle with a golden key
which were granted to "The Most Loyal City of Gibraltar" by the
Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the year
1502
The Gold key
refers to the colony's important position at the gateway to the
Mediterranean
The
strategic military importance of Gibraltar is represented by its
castle
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
Gibraltar
Flag Etiquette
Gibraltar 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 Gibraltar as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Gibraltar
State Flag of
Gibraltar
Military Flag of
Gibraltar (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Gibraltar
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Gibraltar Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Gibraltar 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 Gibraltar flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Gibraltar should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Gibraltar flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Gibraltar, 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 Gibraltar Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Gibraltar flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Gibraltar flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Gibraltar flag to the top, then lowering the
Gibraltar Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Gibraltar flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Gibraltar flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Gibraltar flag
The Gibraltar 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 Gibraltar
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
Gibraltar flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Gibraltar
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 Gibraltar Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource
Gibraltar
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait
of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Land Size of
Gibraltar : 6.5 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Gibraltar : Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Population of
Gibraltar : 27,833 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Capital City of
Gibraltar : Gibraltar
GDP of Gibraltar :
$500 million (1997 est.)
Main Industries :
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Currency of
Gibraltar
: Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Agricultural
products : none
Main Colors of
Gibraltar Flag : Red and White
Commonly mis-spelt
as Gibralter
Concise History of
Gibraltar & its Flag
The
Phonenicians first named it Calpe after one of the Columns of
Hercules
The Coat of
Arms were granted to "The Most Loyal City of Gibraltar" by the
Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the year
1502
An
Anglo-Dutch force led by Sir George Rooke seized the Rock in
1704
The name
Gibraltar comes from the Arabic Jabal Tariq which means "Tariq's
mountain" reflecting the famous Rock of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of
Utrecht
The British
garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830
1914 - 1918
WW1
The Coat of
Arms were confirmed as the arms of the city by the British in
1936
1939 - 1945
WW11
August 1945
The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In
referendums held in 1967 and 2002, 98% of Gibraltarians ignored
Spanish pressure and voted to remain a British dependency
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The
Flag and Nation of Gibraltar
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Gibraltar 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
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