The national flag is a symbol of the country. Its color and image on it were not chosen by chance, they reflect the philosophy of the people who live in the territory of the state. Sometimes flag design reflects geographic features or historical facts.

There are very interesting symbols that adorn the flags of some countries. They are not immediately understood by representatives of other states and demand clarification. Here are the most strange images on the flags of different states.

1. Mozambique.

The image on the flag is a composition of three seemingly incompatible things: a rifle, a book and a hoe. But, as it turns out, according to the inhabitants of this country, everything is natural: the book symbolizes the importance of education in this country, the hoe is developed agriculture, and the assault rifle is a symbol of protection and vigilance of the people of Mozambique.

At first glance, in the middle of the red field the sun is depicted, and in its center is a tennis ball. In fact, the rays of the sun, of which only 40 are forty tribes that make up the people of today's Kyrgyzstan, the crossed lines in the center are the yurt, the dwelling of nomads (view from above). In general, the red background is the courage of the people, the sun is peace and prosperity, the yurt is the symbol of the homeland.

The only flag that does not have a rectangular shape. It combines two triangles, which represent the two peaks of the mountains - the northern and southern. And the sun and the moon symbolize the eternity of the state of Nepal.

The flag of the island depicts a figure called "Triskelion" - three running legs, connected in the center. What this figure symbolizes is known only to residents of the island. Most likely, this is an indicator that life on the island does not stand still.

In the center of the flag is a rare bird, the gray crane, which nests in the savanna of this country. The raised leg of the bird, ready to take a step, is an indicator of the country's forward movement, and the stripes of three colors symbolize the representatives of the race (black), the sun and light are yellow, and the unity of the people is red.

The pattern consisting of symbols is called “Soembo” in Mongolia. He points out that in Mongolia all the elements are harmoniously combined - fire and water, the earth and the sun, the moon and the air, as well as the sign Yin-Yang - harmony in relationships. The whole construction is crowned with a flame with three languages ​​- the union of past, present and future. At the same time, the stripes of blue and red color symbolize the blue sky and the flame of victory, as well as a peaceful campfire.

The symbol depicted on the flag of Angola is somewhat reminiscent of the Hammer and Sickle, which once adorned the coat of arms and flag of the Soviet Union. Only on the flag of the flag of Angola is depicted a cog wheel or gear that symbolizes industry, and the machete represents both agriculture and wrestling.

Very impressive symbol in the form of a medieval castle on the flag of this country. But the castle is not a real structure, but only symbolizes the Rock of Gibraltar - a monument of nature and the pride of Gibraltar, and the key - symbolically opens the exit to the Mediterranean.

The flag of this country is interesting because its design was developed by a 15-year-old schoolgirl, and he was adopted virtually without amendments. The black left triangle is the night sky in which the constellation of the Southern Cross is visible, denoting the Southern Hemisphere, where New Guinea is located. And the right red triangle is a sunny country, where birds of paradise live, which really live in this natural area.

Two blue stripes symbolizing the sea, separated by a yellow strip depicting sand. The trident is a symbol of the principle of governing the country: “for the people, with the people, from the people”. And also it is an attribute of the God of the seas of Neptune, the ruler of the elements, and an indicator of the country's colonial past, with which the state parted - the trident is separated from the shaft.

1. Canada and Maple

Next year, the modern Canadian flag is 50 years old. It was approved on February 15, 1965 at a solemn ceremony in the Parliament Hill building, which is located in Ottawa. At noon, to the sounds of the national anthem of Canada “O Canada” and Great Britain “God Save the Queen”, the old flag was lowered and replaced with a red, white and red cloth. These colors are the official colors of the country, which were adopted under the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, George V, in 1921. It is believed that the two red stripes on the sides symbolize the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, which is washed by Canada. In the center of the banner is an 11-point red maple leaf - a symbol of Canada from the 18th century, signifying the unity of the nation.

Interestingly, the first version of the national flag of the country (1867) also showed a maple leaf, or rather, a wreath of leaves. The idea to adopt the new flag design belonged to Prime Minister Lester Pearson. One day, or rather, one fine Friday evening of 1964, he insistently asked for a flag layout. The design team under the leadership of Mr. Donovan had to pretty sweat, so that by the morning of the next day the prime minister could get a ready version of the flag. Donovan’s daughter was invited as a seamstress, as the team could not find anyone else who could quickly come and help. Interestingly, 30 years later, during the official celebration of the anniversary, she admitted that she practically did not know how to sew. That evening, Joan simply decided to help her father, although she planned to spend Friday evening in a more interesting way. Unaware of this, she became involved in the history of her country.

The flag of the Republic of Cyprus depicts two olive branches, crossed under an island depicted on a white background. The olive tree represents the world, as well as white. In the case of the flag, the branches symbolize peace between the main ethnic groups in the country: the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. In honor of them, two branches were chosen. It is not accidental that the color of the island is copper. He points to copper ore, which Cyprus has been famous for since antiquity. Interestingly, copper (Cuprum) got its name in honor of Cyprus (Cyprus).

The issue of creating a national flag was raised after the island gained independence from Britain in 1960. In the competition for the best flag design, the Turkish Cypriot winner Ismet Güney - a teacher by profession. He, like other contestants, had a difficult task - to create such a flag so that neighboring countries would not have any complaints. That is, it was forbidden to use blue and red - the colors of the national flags of Greece and Turkey, as well as to represent the cross and crescent. The design proposed by the teacher more than others liked the first president of the republic, Archbishop Macarius III and vice-president Fazyl Kyuchuk, who initiated the adoption of the national flag.

3. Lebanon and cedar

The flag of Lebanon, like the flag of Canada, is a white cloth with red stripes, in the center of which is a plant - a symbol of the country. However, the stripes on the Lebanese banner frame it above and below, and not at the sides. In addition, the plant - the Lebanese cedar - is colored green, not red, like the Canadian flag.

According to the fifth article of the Lebanese Constitution, red symbolizes martyrdom, and white - the snowy peaks of the Lebanese mountains. Cedar is an ancient symbol of the country. This tree grows on the slopes of the mountains in Lebanon at an altitude of 1000-2000 meters above sea level. Cedar was used in shipbuilding: Phoenician navigators walked on the Mediterranean Sea on ships made of Lebanese cedar. In addition, with its help they built temples, therefore this tree personifies tolerance and immortality. There are other interpretations of the colors of the flag, for example: white is responsible for purity and peace, and red symbolizes the blood shed in the struggle for independence, which the country received in 1943.

4. Hong Kong and Bauhinia

The modern flag of Hong Kong is quite young. It was adopted on February 16, 1990, and after 6 years, was officially approved by the PRC. It was only on July 1, 1997 that it was first raised at the ceremony of handing over sovereignty. Until that day, Hong Kong was officially under the authority of Great Britain, which seized it in 1842. The flag of the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is a red cloth, in the center of which is a white flower with five petals - Bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana), or, as it is also called, “Hong Kong Orchid”. It is believed that this flower was found in Hong Kong. It serves as a symbol of harmony in the political principle “one country - two systems”. Each of the five petals depicts one star, which refers to the Chinese flag (the personification of the leadership of the Communist Party and 4 classes of Mao Zedong: the proletariat, the peasantry, the intelligentsia and the army). These stars symbolize the unity of Hong Kong with China, as well as red - the color of communism. He emphasizes the territorial affiliation of postcolonial Hong Kong to China.

5. Equatorial Guinea and Cottonwood

The flag of this African country consists of three horizontal stripes of green, white and red colors, as well as the blue triangle on the left side. These colors have a special symbolism, namely: green represents the country's agriculture, white - the world, red - shed blood, and the blue Atlantic Ocean, which is washed by Equatorial Guinea.

In the center of the cloth depicts the coat of arms, which is a shield. Above it are 6 gold six-pointed stars, personifying the provinces of the republic. At the bottom of the shield is a silver ribbon with the state motto “UNIDAD PAZ Y JUSTICIA” (“Unity, Peace and Justice”), and in the center is a cotton tree, or bombax. In the 19th century it was called the tree of the gods. There is a legend that the first agreement between Spain and the local ruler was signed under it. The modern flag was adopted on October 12, 1968 after the declaration of independence of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

6. Haiti and palm

The coat of arms of Haiti is also depicted on the flag of this country. It is a white square with many different details. Looking closely, you can see the palm tree, which rises in the center of the colorful composition, its top is covered with a hat of freedom, and various war trophies are placed at the base. At the bottom of the coat of arms is the motto “L" Union Fait La Force ", which is translated from French, one of the two official languages ​​of Haiti, means" In unity - force. "By the way, Haiti is the only independent state in America dominated by French. Until 1804, this territory was dependent on France.

The French past is also displayed in the colors of the flag: the blue and red horizontal stripes, which symbolize the union of mulattoes and blacks. The modern state flag was adopted on February 25, 1986.

7. Mexico and the cactus

The Mexican tricolor, adopted on September 16, 1968, strongly resembles the Italian one. It also consists of three vertical stripes of green, white and red. The only thing that distinguishes it is the image of the coat of arms of Mexico, which is located on the central - white - strip of the flag. On it is an eagle sitting on a cactus, which has clutched its beak to a snake. According to legend, it was precisely this dramatic scene that the Aztec Indians, who roamed 130 years in North America, were to find. The god of the sun and the war of Huitzilopochtli predicted that they would establish a settlement on the spot where they would find an eagle devouring a snake. So in 1325 the city of Tenochtitlan was founded, which in translation means “the place of prickly cacti”. Today in its place is Mexico City. As for the flag colors, they have a more mundane interpretation. Green personifies the vegetation and hope of the country, white - cleanliness, and red - blood shed for the independence of the country.