#dayoftheflag

Day of the Flag — March 1 — Ohio On March 1, 1803, Ohio officially joined the United States with no flag whatsoever. They took their time, too, going flagless for almost 100 more years. When the 1901 Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, NY called for a flag from each state, the Buckeyes had to get in the game. The flag's designer, Cleveland architect John Eisenmann, described it as "a triangular forked or swallow-tailed flag corresponding to the shape generally known as a 'cavalry-guidon' or 'broad pennant.'" The similarity to a cavalry guidon recalls the role of Union cavalry regiments in Ohio while the roundel at the hoist invokes the state's name. Its remarkable shape and stylish geometry were radical for its time, in which the "seal on a bedsheet" template was still considered contemporary. So different was the flag's impression on an American audience that newspapers likened it to the flags of Cuba, the Philippines, and even Japan in order to give their readers a solid basis for comparison. It remains a dazzling spectacle of geometry even now, as it's one of only two non-quadrilateral civil flags in the world. Yes, the other one is Nepal. Y'all already know. [V=] ❤️🤍💙 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #stateflags #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CalehJWMeEu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 28 — Åland What do you get when you cross Sweden and Finland? Coffee massage? Angry Birds® Sauna? Well, if we're talking flags, and we always will be, what you get is Åland, also known as the Åland Islands. Its design is literally the flag of Sweden with a red, Finnish center. Located just off the southwest tip of Finland, the traditionally Swedish-speaking archipelago of Åland has had some fraught and ambiguous relationships with its nearest neighbors. As Wikipedia puts it, because the Vexillist is just too tired today: "When Finland obtained independence from Russia in 1917, many Ålanders feared they would lose their Swedish culture and language which led to the native population starting a movement to unite with Sweden. This led to Finland, Sweden, and Russia appealing to the League of Nations, who decided in favor of Ålander autonomy. Starting in the early 1920s, Åland unofficially used a blue and yellow tricolor flag until it was banned in 1935 by the Finnish government. In 1952, new laws gave Åland the right to make its own flag and a proposed flag resembling the Swedish flag with a blue cross inside was rejected by the president. The final design ended up being the first proposed model with a red cross inside to represent Finland." Since today is Kalevala Day, the holiday of Finnish culture (which is still a very strong force in Åland), it is fitting to give this flag a wider introduction wherever we can. [V=] 💙💛❤️ #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #kalevala #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CajGAbgMZ19/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 27 — Antigua and Barbuda Today is Flag Day in Antigua and Barbuda, commemoratimg the adoption of its national flag on February 27, 1967. It is another result of a successful flag contest, in which this design by Reginald Samuel beat out 599 other entries. As Whitney Smith's entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica explains: "The red background suggested the dynamism of the people working toward their own destiny, while the V-shape in the centre was for victory. The colours of that area symbolized local heritage: black was for the majority population and the soil, blue for the surrounding sea, and white for the beaches making the area a popular tourist destination. The golden sun was characteristic of the local climate. The flag was also favoured because it was unique in concept and design and easily recognizable." [V=] ❤️🖤💛💙🤍❤️ #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #nationalflags #antiguaandbarbuda #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CagT1iLsCFh/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — The February 26 Incident On this day in 1936, the Empire of Japan was rocked by a coup d'état attempted by a faction of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), in which they sought to eliminate their rivals. By the early 1930's, the IJA was essentially divided into two informal political coalitions. The Kōdō-ha ("Imperial Way) faction emphasized traditional Japanese culture and spiritual ideals over material innovation. They also ascribed to Hokushin-ron, a political doctrine that understood economic and territorial expansion as imperative to the success of the Empire. This view, sometimes called the Strike North Group, advocated attacking the USSR to assert control in Siberia and Mongolia. The Kōdō-ha were rivaled by the Tōsei-ha ("Control") faction, who were fans of Nazi ideas of nationbuiling, including central planning that fused military and economic institutions, technological innovation, and total war theory. They also sought to expand the Japan's footprint, but they advocated for marching west to expand into China and Southeast Asia. Several notable instances of violence between these two groups popped off from 1932 through 1935. In early 1936, a small group of Kōdō-ha units decided that they could correct what they saw as a perversion of traditional Japanese sovereignty by eliminating their competition within the nation's top political and military ranks. They chose Feb. 26 because they saw a chance to establish their men and their allies serve as duty officers at that times, giving them easy access to weapons and ammunition. After a night of heavy snow, this group (calling themselves the Righteous Army) began their attack at 4:00 a.m. Over the subsequent 48 hrs., the insurgency managed to assassinate a few of their high-profile targets (including two former prime ministers), but their attack was not a success. It was quickly suppressed and key participants were largely executed or imprisoned. But in that short struggle, the "Righteous Army" did make great use of its flag and slogan. To the Japanese Flag, they added in black calligraphy, "Revere the Emperor, Destroy the Traitors." [V=]🤍❤️🤍 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CadlowBMJ5_/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 24 — Ukraine 🇺🇦 For followers of the Vexillist who are outside of (or new to) the flag community, you should know that it tends to be a very globally-minded community. We love flags for the way they inform us and connect us to other people. Today, our eye, and the eyes of the world are on Ukraine as it suffers an outrageous, unprovoked, and wholly unjustified invasion by Russia. The color combination of yellow and blue has its roots in pre-Christian ceremonial traditions, symbolizing fire and water. These colors (in a wide variety of designs) have been used to represent Ukrainian lands since the 12th century C.E. It arrived at it's current horizontal bicolor in 1848, when it was used in Lviv during the Spring of the Nations uprisings. It's use as a national flag in the contemporary sense began in 1917 when Ukraine fought it's war for independence from Russia. After being reconquered under the Soviet regime, it was outlawed and replaced with a series of Soviet designs. During that period it continued to be a known symbol of resistance, and it was restored to glory as the USSR began to dissolve in 1991. The Vexillist is also highlighting the flag of Ukraine's armed forces, which features the national coat of arms in the center of a magenta field surrounded by the outline of a Cossack cross. We pray for the safety, sovereignty, and victory of an independent Ukraine. [V=] 💙💛 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #nationalflags #ukraine #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CaX_Nh_PXB-/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 23 — Mashramani Today's featured design is a fond favorite in the flag community, not only for its aesthetics but also for its ties to vexillology's most influential proponent. Guyana, which is located on the northern coast of South America, was under British control from [dates]. When the dissolution process began, a contest was initiated to find a flag for the soon-to-be independent country. A college student named Whitney Smith submitted a design (overlapping chevrons of yellow and green on a red field) and heard nothing back. When the flag was unveiled in 1966, Smith noticed the strong similarity to his own design (the colors were reversed and the fimbriations added), so he got in touch with the selection committee. Turns out, they'd been trying to get in touch with him. They loved his contribution to the process and later included him in a state dinner at the White House and he went on to essentially found the field of vexillology. So, that's the flag, but why today? Today is Mashramani, usually called Republic Day in English. Mashramani was born after a successful Carnival event was fused with the fervor of nascent patriotism. The name itself is a bit of an oddity. It may very well be the Arawak word for "festival," but the accuracy of that claim is debatable. Nevertheless, it was considered at the time to be a debate without any settlement, and therefore a safe name to choose for the celebration. In 1970, under Pres. Forbes Burnham, Mashramani (Mash for short) became an official national celebration, commemorated every February 23rd. It still incorporates many Carnival-esque elements, replete with parades, music, costumes, and dancing. [V=] ❤️🖤💛🤍💚 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #nationalflags #whitneysmith #vexillology #mashramani https://www.instagram.com/p/CaWF1UAM5rq/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 22 — St. Lucian Independence Day Today, the Vexillist wishes Happy Independence Day to the island of St. Lucia and kudos on a flag well done. The flag of St. Lucia "consists of a cerulean blue field charged with a yellow triangle in front of a white-edged black isosceles triangle." The blue represents the ocean while the white and black together represent a harmonious coexistence between racial groups. Yellow represents sunshine and prosperity. The overlapping triangles also allude to the Pitons, twin volcanic cones located in southwestern St. Lucia. [V=] 💙💛🖤🤍 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #organizationalflags #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CaTpNXvsvc-/?utm_medium=tumblr

Day of the Flag — February 21 — Presidents' Day Every February in the U.S.A. we celebrate as one federal holiday the birthdays of two of our most influential Presidents, George Washington (Feb. 22, 1732) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809). This year, the Vexillist marks Presidents' Day with a couple very relevant flags, and one that's tangential (but gorgeous). The first is Washington's Headquarters Standard, which flew over Valley Forge, PA, during the Revolutionary War. *It should be noted that there is a great deal of discussion and debate surrounding the dates and role of this flag, which the Vexillist encourages followers to explore. It is, however, a safe statement to say that it has lived on (with a circular arrangement of the stars) in its association with the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, a semi-ceremonial infantry division of the U.S. Army that has been disbanded and reactivated a number of times over the past couple centuries and change. The Guard's public duties include a role in general officer retirement ceremonies, state arrivals, and presidential inaugurations. Finally, as a special treat (and because we already talked about the flag(s) involved in Lincoln's assassination a while back), the Vexillist hopes you'll enjoy seeing the flag of Lincoln, Nebraska. The city was originally called Lancaster and was renamed in honor of Pres. Lincoln on July 29, 1869. Its new flag (adopted just over a year ago) was designed by artist Ed Mejia as an entry into an open competition. According to Lincoln.ne.gov, "[h]is design was inspired by the sight of Lincoln’s skyline emerging on the otherwise flat horizon as he first drove into town. He drew inspiration from art deco architecture and native artwork displayed inside the capitol building and used intersecting lines to capture the interconnection of technology, agriculture, and commerce that have drawn people to Lincoln throughout our past, present, and into the future." Happy Presidents' Day, everyone! [V=] 💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙 #dayoftheflag #flinsta #flags #historicalflags #cityflags #vexillology https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQ34p7M9DD/?utm_medium=tumblr