Each country has its own recognizable symbolism. Some have even a few options. For example, there are different US flags. One of them is official, and the second is connected with the history of the country and is used only in some states. Let’s take a closer look.
Modern flag of America
The official banner has a traditional rectangular shape, but an unusual proportion - the sides relate to each other as ten to nineteen. The US flag is covered in horizontal stripes of red and white. The first on the canvas is seven, and the second is six, they all go alternately. In the upper corner, also called the canton, the US flag is complemented by a blue rectangle that shows fifty white stars. They are all five-pointed. It is interesting that this particular US flag is one of the oldest in the history of national symbols - even the more ancient banners of Great Britain and France send it to the third place. When did he appear?
The history of the banner
The US flag was first used on June 14, 1777. This date was later used to celebrate National Banner Day. Its initial significance was associated with the number of colonies that gained independence and formed the United States. The flag, whose photographs are familiar to modern people, then looked a bit different. The number of stars was thirteen; that was exactly the number of colonies. At the moment, everything has changed. The number of stripes was left unchanged, this is a kind of tribute to the founders of the state. But the number of stars is changing after the accession of each new state for several centuries. There is a possibility that there will be a new change soon. New territory may be added to the USA. The flag, photos and images of which are now everywhere, will be transformed and will receive a new star - experts have already developed a model of the future banner.
Meaning of the symbol
Let's see what the US flag means. Its shades are white, blue and red. Each has a separate meaning. White color is a sign of purity and innocence, blue symbolizes justice and vigilance, and red - valor. In addition, the shades are associated with the Great Seal, adopted in 1782. Interestingly, almost all countries in the world use at least one shade that matches the color of the US flag.
Laws related to the panel
There are several interesting rules in the country that determine the use of the flag. For example, it should not be lowered to show respect. US flags are never located down the canton - this situation is a distress signal. In addition, the cloth never hangs on the streets so that they cling to something or get dirty. The rule also prohibits wearing the shaft horizontally. It is impossible to use the flag as a cloak, sheet or coverlet, to sew clothes from it or to draw. Do not wrap foreign objects with a cloth. Finally, it is forbidden to use the flag image on one-time little things. At the same time, everyone can burn the banner in protest.
Confederate Flag
There is another flag in the country, which is often used so far. Interestingly, all official US flags have always been a modern version and differ only in the number of stars. This banner has never been approved by the state. But nevertheless, it has existed for more than a century and it can still be seen on the streets. The so-called confederate battle flag looks like a red canvas with a diagonal blue cross, on which white stars are located . The history of this symbol dates back to the time of the Civil War in the sixties of the nineteenth century. Confederates were residents of the southern states, distinguished by their traditional way of life. They were engaged in agriculture and the cultivation of cotton, the possession of slaves was widespread. The northerners, who became opponents of the Confederates in the civil war, adhered to the ideas of abolitionism. Despite the fact that the victory was won by the latter and the racist laws disappeared long ago, some residents of the south still prefer the old conservative views. That is why US flags can be different in individual states - unofficially in Georgia or Texas often use the canvas of the Confederates. Because of the racist subtext, they are going to ban it every now and then, while the historical value of the symbol remains indisputable and it does not disappear anywhere.