Two equal horizontal bands of white (top), and red
Red Dragon Emblem
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Welsh flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Green - hope, joy and love and in many cultures have a sacred significance
The basic style shown in the picture of the Welsh 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 Welsh flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The Meaning & History of the Welsh Flag
The Welsh flag is known as Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon
The Romans carried banners bearing Dragon emblems - it is believed that legends about dragons were passed to the Romans from the Persian Empire
The Welsh hero Cadwaladr carried the dragon standard in the 700's
The Tudors claimed Welsh ancestry and their livery was green and white. The Tudors claim to the English throne was strengthened by this association
The Welsh flag has been officially used since the 1950s
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
Welsh Flag Etiquette
Welsh 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 Welsh as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Welsh
State Flag of Welsh
Military Flag of Welsh (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Welsh
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Welsh Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Welsh 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 Welsh flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Welsh should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Welsh flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Welsh, 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 Welsh Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Welsh flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Welsh flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Welsh flag to the top, then lowering the Welsh Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Welsh flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Welsh flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Welsh flag
The Welsh 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 Welsh 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 Welsh flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Welsh 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 Welsh Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Wales
Location:
Western Europe, Western section of British Isles between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Welsh Land Size : 8800 square miles
Climate / Weather of Wales : temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Welsh Population : 2,946,200
Former Name(s) : Cambria
Welsh Main Industries : machine tools, electric power & automation equipment, communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
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
The Romans gave Wales the name of Cambria
The Ancient Druid religion is had its stronghold in Wales until the Roman invasion
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
According to legend Emperor Magnus Maximus Elen the daughter of a Welsh chieftain
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
383 Is considered by eminent historians as the year that the concept of the Welsh nation began
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
St. David - the Patron Saint of Wales
St. David's day is celebrated on March 1st
St. David was an early crusader for Christianity and served as a Bishop in Wales, is believed to have died on March 1st, 589
"The Life of St David" was written by Rhygyfarch of Llanbadarn (near Aberystwyth) around 1190
His remains were buried at what is now the Cathedral of St. David's in Pembrokeshire in the West of Wales
The leek is a Welsh emblem which is linked with St. David and adopted as a national symbol because of its importance to the Welsh national diet especially during Lent
Concise History of Welsh & its Flag Wales had been conquered by Edward I of England (1239 - 1307) and became incorporated into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284. Wales was therefore considered part of the kingdom of England and the Welsh flag never became part of the British Union Jack Flag
383 Is considered by eminent historians as the year that the concept of the Welsh nation began
784 The King Of Mercia builds Offa's Dyke as a boundary between England and Wales
844-877 The Reign Of Rhodri Mawr (Rhodri The Great) who united all of Wales under his rule
890 Welsh rulers acknowledge Alfred Of Wessex as their ruler and creates a sense of subservience to the English Crown
1066-77 Following the defeat of the English King Harold at the Battle Of the Normans also take control of Wales
1120-1129 "Historia Regum Britanniae" was writtenb by Geoffrey Of Monmouth and details the Arthurian Legend of King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin and the Chivalric Court of Camelot. This provided the Welsh with a claim to the sovereignty of the whole island of Britain of which the Tudors took advantage
1137-1170 The Reign of Owain Gwynedd
1169 According to Welsh legend Prince Madog Of Gwynedd, landed in Alabama and travelled up the Missouri leaving behind Welsh culture and customs
1204 Prince Llywelyn Ap Iorwerth married Joan, the daughter of King John Of England
1222-1283 Llywelyn Ap Gruffudd took the title of Prince Of Wales with agreement from the King Of England but Wales then became subservient to the King of England
1284 Wales became incorporated into The Kingdom Of England under the Statute of Rhuddlan
1485 The Battle Of Bosworth ended the English Wars of The Roses when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III. Henry Tudor claimed Welsh descent through Owain Tudor of Penmynedd in Anglesey who had secretly married Catherine, widow of King Henry V. Their son, Edmund Tudor fathered Henry Tudor, who became King Henry VII of England and fulfilled the old prophesy that one day a Welsh Monarch would rule the whole of Britain
"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 Welsh Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Welsh 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!
