The Flag of Turkey - Description of the Turkish Flag
As the above picture of the Turkish Flag indicates the overall background is Red
The description of the Turkish Flag is as follows:
Red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side)
White five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Turkish flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
The basic style shown in the picture of the Turkish 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 Turkish flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side ) is called the Hoist
The upper left quarter of the flag is called the Canton
The right half of the flag is called the Fly
The Meaning & History of the Turkish Flag
The Turkish flag is called Ay Yildiz which means Moon Star
It was originally the flag of the Ottoman Empire
The crescent and star are symbols of Islam
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
Turkish Flag Etiquette
Turkish 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 Turkish as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Turkish
State Flag of Turkish
Military Flag of Turkish (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Turkish
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Turkish Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Turkish 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 Turkish flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Turkish should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Turkish flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Turkish, 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 Turkish Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Turkish flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Turkish flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Turkish flag to the top, then lowering the Turkish Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Turkish flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Turkish flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Turkish flag
The Turkish 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 Turkish 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 Turkish flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Turkish 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 Turkish Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Turkey
Location:
Southeastern Europe and south-western Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Turkish Land Size : 770,760 sq km
Climate / Weather of Turkey : temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Turkish Population : 68,893,918 (July 2004 est.)
Turkish Capital City: Ankara
Turkish GDP: $455.3 billion (2003 est.)
Main Turkish Industries : textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common - barbarian
It is from the greek Keltoi that Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient Austrian civilisations
Concise Turkish History& its Flag
1288 Foundation of the Ottoman Empire by the warrior Osman which eventually rules North Africa, most of Eastern Europe and all of the Middle East
1453 Conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) by Sultan Mehmet II 'the Conqueror'
1520-1566 Golden Age of the Ottoman Empire with the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent
1683-1697 Austro-Ottoman war in which the Ottoman side was defeated signifying the decline of the Ottoman Empire
1682-1725 Peter the Great initiates Russo-Turkish rivalry
1854 Crimean war - Tsar Nicholas I of Russia moved troops into Rumania, then part of the Ottoman Turkish empire. His fleet then destroyed a Turkish flotilla off Sinope in the Black Sea. The Russians were defeated by the British and French with the Ottomans
1909 Abdul Hamid, the last of the Ottoman sultans is deposed
1914-1918 Turkey allies with Germany in the first world war
1939-1945 Turkey remains neutral during World War II
"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 Turkish Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Turkish Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags 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!
