What flag

To the question, Which country’s flag does not have a rectangular shape? What do you know about this country? set by the author Ɓátʍαℕ  the best answer is Traditionally, national flags are rectangular canvases. However, there is a flag in the world that does not obey this unwritten law of vexillology (the science of flags, pennants). The flag of Nepal, consisting of two red triangles, located one below the other. The entire panel is edged with a blue border. Dark red is considered the national color of the country, and blue is a symbol of peace. On the upper triangle there is a white image of the moon, on the lower - the sun (previously the moon and the sun were depicted with faces). Symbols of celestial bodies embody the hope that Nepal will exist as long as the sun and moon.
It is believed that the flag is a combination of two pennants of the branches of the Rana dynasty, who ruled the country in the distant past. However, the triangular shape is often interpreted both as a symbol of the Himalayan mountains and as an embodiment of the unity of two religions in the country - Buddhism and Hinduism. The flag was officially approved on December 16, 1962.

  It is worth noting that the flag of the US state of Ohio, approved on July 10, 1902, can compete with the Nepalese banner for the unusual shape. Also one of a kind - the panels of all the other participants in the United States are classically rectangular. It is generally difficult to describe its complex shape intelligently: its upper and lower edges narrow from the shaft to the edge of the panel, which, in turn, is represented by an acute-angled cut. As for symbolism, it’s easier with it: a large blue triangle symbolizes the mountains and valleys of Ohio, lanes - roads and rivers, along with five states of the Northwest Territory (which includes Ohio). 17 stars - that the state became the 17th member to join the union. A white circle with a red center symbolizes not only the first letter of the name of the state, but also its nickname - "Horse Chestnut."

Nepal is the only country in the world that professes Hinduism as a state religion.
What do you think will be the most surprising for the person who first appeared in Nepal?

Oddly enough, but it is precisely the feeling of a universal holiday and, at the same time, the peace that the spirit of this country fills, which undoubtedly amazes many who come here. . And perhaps this is precisely why travelers come here.

For harmony of soul, peace of mind, for clarity and light in their destiny, which miraculously manifest themselves, especially if you touch the shrines of Nepal, having visited this amazing land filled with the spirit of truth, the homeland of enlightened buddhas and bodhisattvas.

A source:  http://dnepr.comments.ua/article/2012/08/23/102523.html Nepal, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Nepali. नेपाल) is a state in the Himalayas in South Asia. It borders with India and China. The capital is the city of Kathmandu.

Answer from Sdfsdrf43 sadfase1q43[newbie]
I think that they have not yet created such a flag) since in all countries of the world it is customary how you degenerate horizontal)). (from)

Answer from Sewerka[guru]
Before the era of navigation, state flags had a very different form. A rectangular shape with an aspect ratio of 2 to 1 or 3 to 2 was most practical for installation on the masts of ships. Gradually, this form of flags became standard, first in Euro

What does the flag of Switzerland mean?

Until the 19th century the Swiss did not have a single union flag. During military campaigns, soldiers carried battle banners  their cantons. Since 1339, after the battle of Laupen, white crosses began to be used as a distinctive sign, which could be seen on the uniform and equipment of soldiers.

The triangular flag of the confederation in the XV and XV centuries.
  White cross, consisting of 5 identical squares, on a red background in the 19th century
  Starting in 1889 (modern form), 5 squares turn into a cross with a horizontal crossbar 1/6 longer than a vertical one. There are several versions about the origin of the country's flag.
The proximity of the Holy Roman Empire for a long time had a strong influence on the course of events in the territory of the future confederation.
According to one of them, speaking in 1240 on the side of Emperor Frederick II, brave men from the “forest canton” received the right to color their battle banners in the color of the Holy Roman Empire. The white cross is a pre-Christian symbol and another reminder of the Helvetus. Interestingly, this, equilateral cross “crux quadrata” is called the cross of St. George.
There is also an assumption that the distribution of a single symbol for all Swiss is connected with the fact that in the 15th century, stitching on clothes or a bandage that was worn on the arm white cross, soldiers of various battle groups participating in the "Burgundian wars" avoided the opportunity to become a target for a well-aimed shot or strike of a compatriot.
In the not so long history of the country, a white cross on a red background appeared after civil war  1848-1852, on the banners of the united Swiss troops with the active participation of General A. Dufor. However, debates on the final appearance, the size of the panel, and the length of the faces of the cross have been going on for almost 40 years.

The first prototype of the modern flag of Switzerland - a white cross on a red field or simply a red banner - served as a common emblem for special combat groups formed from soldiers of various cantons. It comes from the coat of arms of the canton of Schwyz (one of the three cantons that formed the Swiss Confederation in 1291, together with Uri and Unterwald).

During the Helvetic Republic (1798-1803), Napoleon forbade the use of the cross on the banner and introduced a new green-red-yellow tricolor, which after the fall of the republic was again replaced with the old flag.

Flag of Switzerland - exception to the rule
On the eve of Switzerland’s joining the UN in 2002, this international organization faced a small problem: according to its rules, all flags of countries belonging to the UN should have a rectangular shape, while in Switzerland it should be square. Fortunately, any rule has its exceptions. So, if the flag of a new UN member does not exceed the size of the flags of other members of this organization, then the decision is made in favor of the flag. Swiss authorities agree to reduce their state flag  to the right size, and now it can be seen next to others, proudly fluttering over the UN Headquarters in New York.

The shape of the Swiss flag is nowhere specified by law, but its color was officially approved on January 1, 2007. Red is a mixture of purple and yellow. The Coat of Arms of the Confederation - a white equilateral cross whose ends are 1/6 longer than their width - was approved by a government decree in 1889.

In the canton of Obwalden. Graphics: swiss-imag.сh / Thomas Senf

What is special? How did he appear and what is its significance? Why is it often confused with the flag of Denmark and the ICRC? And how popular are Swiss flag t-shirts now? These and other questions will be answered in detail by this material of the Switzerland Business Portal.

Graphics: swiss-imag.сh / Christof Sonderegger

Square

What does it look like ? If described in a generalized form, then on it on a red background is depicted a straight free-standing white Greek cross. Although the standard form of the Swiss flag is not provided by law, it is universally accepted that national flag of switzerland  has a square shape.

  Modern flag of Switzerland

This form differs from the vast majority of flags of other countries. In addition to him, there is only one more square flag in the world - its owner is. By the way, this is not the only connection between Switzerland and the international center of the Roman Catholic Church. At the service of the Vatican are guardsmen exclusively of Swiss origin. Sometimes, however, there is a statement that the Pope protects. This is not true: although the citizens of the Confederation guard the religious leader, they do not obey the command from Switzerland, but directly to the Pope.

Rectangle

Note: only over sea and river vessels registered in the Confederation, rectangular flags fly with an aspect ratio of 2: 3. This form is prescribed by the Federal Law of September 23, 1953.

Swiss flag at sea

Interesting fact: everyone knows that Switzerland is a country located in the center of Western Europe and not having access to the sea. This fact, however, is not an obstacle for many civilian ships to sail in the oceans, on which the flag of Switzerland flies. In contrast, international law of the sea allows “inland” countries to present their flag to civilian vessels.

What kind of canvas flutters over the ship has not only symbolic meaning. The vessel acquires the “nationality” of the flag state. And the legislation of the latter is subject to application to the ship and everything and everything that and who is on it. It does not matter where the ship is actually located in the oceans.

“Sea flag  Switzerland ”

This absolutely legal legal construction is quite successfully used by Switzerland, which, to the surprise of many, is a fairly large maritime power. So, in the Confederation, namely - in, the corporation is registered Mediterranean Shipping Company  (MSC), the second largest civilian ship company in the world (estimated market share is 13%).

  Swiss car number. Graphics: CNB, CC BY-SA 3.0

By the way, did you know that in German there are 2 terms denoting the word “flag” - Flagge and Fahne? In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, the concept of “Flagge” is not used; instead, the word “Fahne” is usually used.

How not to confuse flags?

Switzerland flag and canton flag

Do not confuse the national flag with the flag of the canton of Schwyz; although - as mentioned above - perhaps this flag served as a prototype national flag. Since their proportions differ, it is generally accepted that the Swiss flag has its own composition, and is not an enlarged version of the flag of the canton of Schwyz.

Flag of Denmark and Switzerland

Paradoxically, sometimes foreigners confuse the flags of Denmark and Switzerland. Themselves, although somewhat offended, treat such cases with irony. And the truth: on the flag of Denmark you can also find a cross; In addition, this cross is located on a red background. However, if you take a closer look, you can see the difference in shape (2: 3 for the Danish flag; the square shape of the Swiss flag) and color (the background of the Danish flag is much darker).

  Flag of denmark

I wonder if there is a confusion on the contrary, and how do the Danes react to it?

Switzerland flag and ICRC flag

Inverted copy

It is no secret that the Swiss flag was the prototype for the flag of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). However, there are 2 significant differences: firstly, the colors of the flags are “inverted”, i.e. the cross is made in red on a white background; secondly, the ICRC flag is not square; instead, it has a 2: 3 ratio.

  ICRC flag

Today it is home to many headquarters, among which the International Red Cross Movement holds an honorable place. However, such a relationship between the Swiss and this organization is not accidental. The Red Cross symbol of the same name is an inverted copy of the Swiss flag!

Historical background

In 1864, a Swiss businessman, Henri Dunant, and an officer in the Swiss army, Guillaume-Henri Duport, suggested that the committee take a red cross as an emblem on a white background. In fact, this is the reverse version of the flag of Switzerland. As a result, this initiative was soon approved by the Geneva Conventions. The red cross on a white background until today remains the international symbol of medical personnel.

However, this was not always the case. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, the Ottoman Empire refused to use the cross as a medical symbolism. In this case, the religious component became the cause of contention: for citizens professing Islam, the cross became an unacceptable symbol of Christianity. In addition, he caused unpleasant associations with the crusaders.

In the framework of the Geneva Conventions of 1929, the red cross acquired a "brother." The Red Crescent was approved as the second symbol for Muslim countries. By the way, later, representatives of Israel again, due to religious motives, refused to use both of the above characters. For this reason, the Red Cross International Movement had to adopt a third alternative symbol - Crystal. All three characters are printed in red on a white background.

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