Flag of Montserrat - Description of the Montserrat Flag
As the above picture of the Montserrat Flag indicates the overall background is blue
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Montserrat flag represent the following:
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The basic style shown in the picture of the Montserrat 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 Montserrat flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The upper left quarter of the flag, hoist side, is called the Canton and pictures the British Union Jack
The right half of the flag is called the Fly and pictures the Montserratian badge
The emblem on the Montserrat flag pictures a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross
The Meaning & History of the Montserrat Flag - The Montserrat flag depicts the badge of Montserrat, which shows Erin, the symbol of freedom for Ireland, holding a gold, or deep yellow harp by her left hand
The emblem of Montserrat is the shamrock, in honour of its earliest European settlers, who were of Catholic-Irish
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
Montserrat Flag Etiquette
Montserrat 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 Montserrat as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Montserrat
State Flag of Montserrat
Military Flag of Montserrat (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Montserrat
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Montserrat Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Montserrat 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 Montserrat flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Montserrat should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Montserrat flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Montserrat, 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 Montserrat Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Montserrat flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Montserrat flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Montserrat flag to the top, then lowering the Montserrat Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Montserrat flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Montserrat flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Montserrat flag
The Montserrat 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 Montserrat 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 Montserrat flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Montserrat 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 Montserrat Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Montserrat
Location:
Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995
Land Size of Montserrat : 102 sq km
Climate / Weather of Montserrat : tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Population of Montserrat : 9,245
Former Name(s) : n/a
Capital City of Montserrat : Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)
GDP of Montserrat : $29 million (2002 est.)
Main Industries : tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Currency of Montserrat : East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Main Colors of Montserrat Flag : red, white and blue
Commonly mis-spelt as Montserat
Concise History of Montserrat & its Flag
The island of Montserrat, in the Caribbean Sea, was named after the mountain by Christopher Columbus in 1493
Montserrat is a mountain near Barcelona, in Catalonia, in Spain.
The name Montserrat literally means "jagged mountain"
The Ciboney, Arawak and the Carib Indians first inhabited Montserrat
The Caribs and the Arawaks were tropical forest people who probably originated in South America and were related the people found anywhere from Panama to Brazil
Not discovered by Europeans until 1492 when Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World
Before the arrival of the Spanish the Carib males had a justified reputation as the most feared warriors of the Caribbean
In 1555 the Spanish claimed the Islands
The Caribs and the Arawaks were progressively wiped out by the after-effects of the Spanish conquest, with the more peaceful Arawak tribes suffering the greater losses
The Spanish were continuously harassed by the native Caribs and by pirates and buccaneers who attacked the Spanish galleons which were carrying riches back to Spain
The pirates who operated in the Islands included Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake
1632 Thomas Warner brings English and Irish Catholics from St.Kitts to establish a colony on Montserrat
1649 Oliver Cromwell transports Irish political prisoners to Montserrat
1651 Irish bring first slaves to Montserrat
Slave rebellion - 1768 on St. Patrick’s Day
The slaves were emancipated in the 1830's
1914 - 1918 WW1
1939 - 1945 WW11
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Montserrat is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom
The eruption of the Soufriere Hills,Chances peak, volcano that began on July 18, 1995 and still continues has made much of the island uninhabitable
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The Flag and Nation of Montserrat
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Flag and Country of Montserrat 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!
