While each flag is unique, most are based on common sets of principles. This category serves as a introduction to basics in flag design and history.
When thinking of all of the different flags of the world, it is truly astonishing that so many different designs can be put on a rectangle of fabric. But despite all the differences, almost every flag is made the same way and can be described using a set of basic terms. We’ll start out with the most important part … More Parts of a flag
Whether in an office, at a parade, in a government building, or any number of places, our American readers have probably seen an American or state flag with gold fringe or tassels. If you’ve read anything on our website, you know that almost every element of a flag has a purpose, meaning, and history behind it. … More What’s up with gold fringe on flags?
Do the North and South Poles have flags? In both cases, the short answer is “kind of.” Here are the long answers: North Pole A popular misconception is that the North Pole is located on Greenland. While this isn’t true, some people still mean “Greenland” when they say the North Pole. Greenland became a self-governed part of the Danish … More Do the North and South Poles have flags?
Flags and boats have had a close relationship for several centuries. At sea, flags have many uses, from communication to identification, even threatening others. In fact, our concept of national flags stems from 17th century sailing ships (as explained in A brief history of flags and why we use them). However, the world of maritime flags isn’t as … More Ensigns, jacks, and more: A primer on maritime flags
As I’ve covered in my state flag ranking post, the number of poorly designed state flags far outweigh the good ones. Let’s look at two flags from neighboring states: Colorado and Kansas. It should be fairly obvious to most that the Colorado flag is simply a better design. But why? Well, someone … More Why your city/state flag is probably terrible and why you should care
Flags are, quite literally, a world standard. Your country, state/providence, county, city, school, company you work for, religion, and social clubs all most likely have flags. And that’s just scratching the surface! So how did flags become so prominent? The direct ancestors of flags all fit into a broad category called vexilliods, which is anything that is flag-like. … More A brief history of flags and why we use them
Odds are if you’ve ever purchased a flag online or at a store, it was probably 3 ft. by 5 ft. or 4 ft. by 6 ft. In fact, all of the flags in that store were probably that same size. What you may not know is that a flag’s actual aspect ratio (how long the … More Flag aspect ratios
Fun Flag Facts 