Flag of Ireland

Ireland is the third largest country in the world. It lies on the northwest side of Europe and is surrounded by islands and archipelagos. On the eastern side is Great Britain. The island is said to be divided into two – the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its population is close to 6.2 million.

The flag of Ireland is a vertical tricolor consisting of green, white and orange. Its proportion is 1:2. Originally a group of French women presented this flag as a gift to Thomas Francis Meagher, who at that point in time, was sympathetic to the Irish cause. But it was not until 1919 when the flag was adapted and became the National flag of Ireland.

With regard to the National Flag, the constitution of Ireland simply says that the National flag should be colored green, white and orange. Since there is no set of rules or guidelines at hand, the Department of Taoiseach took command responsibility pertaining to the flag.

It was believed that the green color in the flag represents the old majority tradition of Ireland. It had always been known for Ireland as a nation. Orange on the other hand had always been associated with the supporters of William Orange. It was included in the flag in order to reconcile the two factions that have exists in Ireland. The white in the center denotes peace or the attempt of the parties concerned to have a lasting peace between the two groups.

The flag of Ireland, which is the standard flag of the Republic of Ireland, is being flown by both the Republican and the Nationalists. This is done in order to show their support for a united Ireland. Of course at first much debate rose regarding the issue. When it was first flown by the Nationalists on Saint Patrick’s Day, of course not all of the people around them agreed with their decision. But they simply argued that the flag is not just for a specific group of people. It represents the whole of Ireland whether you are a Nationalist or a Republican.

In conclusion, the flag of Ireland serves as a reminder that even if you have different beliefs and do not agree politically, there should never be a division among people since lives in the same country and can work hard with one another.

June 19, 2011 at 5:02 am | No comment

Flag of Iceland

Iceland – another European country located near the North Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Reykjavik. Iceland is being characterized as full of mountains and glaciers. It was believed that the colonization of Iceland started when a Norwegian chief became the first person to settle in Iceland.

Over time, Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed countries of the world. The flag of Iceland was officially detailed in a law on June 17, 1944. Although the original flag has a white cross on a blue background, the modern day flag has a red cross on top of a white background. Just like many other flags, the cross represents Christianity.

One thing common among many countries is that it became their national flags after they achieved their independence. For them, the colors stand for the 3 elements that comprise their island. Red is for the fire that explodes from the volcanoes, white is for the ice and snow that covers the island, and blue is for the ocean.

According to some legends, a red cloth with white cross simply fell from the sky. But we know what legends are – they are just theories. They are stories born from campfire socializing and passed from generation to generation. Unofficially, the flag had been used since 1913 as a symbol. It was on June 19, 1915 that the flag was officially adapted.

On June 17, 1944 a law was passed regarding how one would treat the national flag. According to this law the use of the flag is a privilege not a right. Therefore a set of rules are instructions are made in order for the flag to stay in good condition. It also includes provision on how to treat the flag with respect. Anyone who disrespects the flag is subject to a fine or imprisonment.

Like the USA, Iceland also had its own share of flag days. On these days the flags are to be flown from residential and commercial establishments. The only difference about this flag is that on Good Friday they put it on half mast.

June 18, 2011 at 5:02 am | No comment

Flag of Italy

Italy is the home of the world’s most loved spaghetti. Of course, aside from well loved spaghetti there are other things that can be associated with Italy. Among them is Rome, the home of the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Italy is a country located in south-central Europe. It is bound on the north by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. And to the south it consists of Sicily, Sardinia and some smaller islands. Vatican City, which is the seat of the Pope, is within the borders of Italy. Rome is its capital.

The flag of Italy is tricolor. It consists of the colors green, white and red with green on the rear side. It was first used by the Crispadane Republic after Napoleon victoriously crossed Italy. Of course the colors that were chosen then were red and white known to be the Republic’s colors while red is to be added, which is the color of the guards’ uniforms. Of course there are some other interpretations about these colors. Some say that green is the color of the country’s land, white for the snow along the Alps, and red is for the blood. But among the religious they interpret it to mean green is for hope, white for faith, and red is for charity.

It was on January 7, 1787 when the flag was first used. From then onwards, it became officially adapted as the country’s national flag. The design of the flag was originally an idea of Napoleon. It was said that green is his favorite color. Although the flag of Italy has some similarities with that of Ireland’s still there is quite a difference with these flags. One can say the difference lies in their choice of colors. While Ireland opted for the green, white and orange Italy on the other hand prefers green, white and red.

June 16, 2011 at 5:02 am | No comment

Flag of Liechtenstein

Officially, it is known as the Principality of Liechtenstein. It is a country located in Western Europe and is surrounded by Switzerland and Austria on the west and east sides. According to some reports, this country has the second largest gross domestic product in the world.

According to some, although it is a small country yet it is the richest German-speaking country in the world. The flag of Liechtenstein has only two colors to date. It has two horizontal colors of red and blue. But it was only in 1937 that the crown was added when during the Summer Olympics of 1936 it was discovered out that their original flag resembled that of Haiti’s. It had been a common belief that the original colors of the flag were yellow and red.

According to some, Liechtenstein had been a part of the Roman Empire. It was only in 1866 when it finally got its independence. That is why their flag is arranged in a top to bottom parallel pattern of red and blue. And on the right side is a yellow crown. The crown of course is the crown of the Roman Empire.

Blue and red had been used for the flag of Liechtenstein. Although at first there are some contentions on what shape it should be if it should be vertical or horizontal, but in the end it was decided that the colors be horizontally arranged.

The incident at the Olympics was a major setback for them. Who would ever think that a flag would be similar with the flag of Haiti? That is why on the last instant they’ve decided to put the crown at the end of the said Olympics. Now they are different from the flags of other countries. The shape and colors may be the same but the difference is the insertion of the crown.

June 15, 2011 at 5:02 am | No comment

Flag of Lithuania

Lithuania – a country located in the North Baltic Sea. It gained its unity in the 13th century and became one of the largest states of Europe. In 1569, they merged with Poland.

The flag of Lithuania, just like any other countries in Europe, carries a tricolor of yellow, green and red. It was on March 20, 1989 when it was finally accepted as the country’s national flag, although the earliest flag ever recorded was during the 15th century. The beginnings of the yellow, green and red colors are a result of other European countries wanting to change their flags. It was never known whose idea it was to change the colors of the flag to yellow, green and red. There are instances in which they would point out the idea to come from Lithuanian exiles living in Europe or other parts of the United States.

It is believed that the Lithuanian flag colors had its roots from the country’s national dress but others would like to believe that the yellow stripes represent the sun, green for the fields, and red for the blood that was shed in gaining their independence.

In the early days, Lithuania itself did not have a national flag of its own – what they had was only a state flag. But during the end of the 19th century Lithuania fought for freedom. However, this freedom involved giving them the right to have a government of their own without breaking any alliance with Russia.

After the revolution Lithuania’s longing to have an independent state grew. Of course Russia was aware of this. That is why they thought of a solution to resolve this problem. It was here that the question of having a Lithuanian national flag arose.

At first it was suggested that they use an old flag used by the Duchy of Lithuania. Although some other suggestions came, a commission had to be established in order to resolve the problem of the flag.

On November 11, 1918 the flag was raised for the first time. According to Lithuanian law, the flag should be raised on holidays such as the establishment of the state of Lithuania (February 16), the king’s coronation (July 6) and Constitution Day (October 25).

June 14, 2011 at 5:02 am | No comment

Flag of Ukraine

The flag of Ukraine is probably one of the simplest designs of flags all over the world today. The flag was divided horizontally into two equal parts. The upper part is colored blue and the lower portion is colored yellow or some would also put the color as golden yellow. The simple design as well as the color of the Ukranian flag was adopted from previous flags which were used by Ukraine before. The country wanted to adopt the same color in order to avoid confusion and also to have a piece of their history kept on the present flag.

For the Ukranians, the color blue symbolizes the color of the sky above when the dark clouds are no where to be found and the sun is shining brightly. Some people would also say that the color blue pertains to the blue streams which flow into the land of Ukraine and such body of water is continuously flowing as time goes by. The color of the stream is not actually blue per se. The color blue is only a reflection of the blue sky when you see it on water. There are lots of wheat fields in Ukraine and the Ukranians deemed it reasonable to put the color yellow on their flag. It is always nice to see the golden color of the wheat when the sun is shining brightly and the rays of the sun touch the wheat on the field.

June 13, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Vatican City

The Vatican is a very important place for Christian Catholics because it is the place where the Papal Nuncio seats. Some people refer to the Vatican as a sacred City while others would call it the City of the Pope. Vatican City is the only country in the whole world which does not meet the requisite population and land area for a place to be called a country but out of respect to the Pope who is considered as the highest leader among the priests, the Vatican or Holy See was granted the independence it has always desired. The flag of the Vatican City is always on a half mast every time a Pope dies. This is to signify grief due to the death of a person who has two titles namely, the head of a country and the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The flag is actually divided vertically into two parts. The first half is colored yellow while the other half which contains the emblem is colored white. The design of the emblem was very artistic. There are two swords which were intertwined, thereby forming an X shape. The color of the first sword is yellow which is of the same exact shade as the color of the first half of the flag while the second sword is colored white. On top of the X shape is the crown of the Holy See with the symbol of the cross on top. There is also a yellow ribbon which binds the crown and the two swords together. A red cord also binds the swords. The holy crown symbolizes the Roman Catholic Church and the faith of the people all over the world. The two swords intertwined symbolize devotion of the people and the fact that people are willing to take arms in the name of the Catholic Church.

June 12, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of the United States

The flag of the United States is one of the most well known flags in the whole world. There are thirteen stripes on the flag of the United States. The history of the first American flag came about in 1818 when the first United States Congress deemed it wise to place seven horizontal bands which are colored red and six horizontal bands which are colored white on their flag. Did you know that the thirteen bands or stripes represent the thirteen original States which became the United States? America has really made a huge leap from the date it ceased to be a colony of England. The Americans fought for their own freedom and they finally succeeded in being recognized as a free nation, as the United States of America.

On the upper left corner of the first American flag, you can find thirteen stars which are colored white. The stars are enclosed by a small rectangle with blue background. The rectangle with the stars on it does not extend to the end of the flag. It is very interesting to note that the number of States comprising the United States of America has increased through time and as a State is being added so does the number of stars on their flag. This way, you can keep track of the number of States this particular country have. As of the present, there are fifty stars on the American flag and this means that the United States of America has fifty States all in all. The American people are very patriotic and you can see this trait every time they raise their flag while singing the American hymn.

June 9, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Switzerland

At first glance, you might say that the flag of Switzerland looks like the flag of the Red Cross because it has the exact same design. The only difference is that in the Red Cross flag, the cross is colored red while the background is colored white. On the other hand, the flag of Switzerland has a white cross on the center and the background is colored red. Both flags have the cross but it does not extend to the edges of the flag; it only stays at the center. However, you should know that the flag of Switzerland was adopted since the 1800s. It is also very interesting to note that the flag symbolizes neutrality to all its neighboring countries, as can be experienced during the Second World War whereby Switzerland remained neutral. It did not take sides among the warring countries.

Switzerland was the rest and recreation area among the soldiers of the countries at war during World War II and its flag shows that the white cross at the middle of the flag symbolizes peace and love, while the red color on the background refers to blood or war. People say that the flag can be interpreted this way: that Switzerland prefers to be at peace with its neighbors as it is definitely against bloodshed. Some historians also say that the white cross was actually adopted from the Confederates and dates way back during the 1500s. The country is very rich when it comes to history because it is one of the oldest countries in Europe.

June 8, 2011 at 4:52 am | 1 comment

Flag of Scotland

Every country has a flag and Scotland is no different. The only difference is that Scotland carries not one but two flags. It is very unique indeed because it is the only country in the whole world which carries two flags. The first flag was named Saltire. The design of the Saltire is quite simple as a matter of fact. The white cross of St. Andrew in an X style was on the flag and the rest of the color is plain blue. The Scottish people had a great fascination about St. Andrew who is a fisherman in the bible. St. Andrew, together with his brother Simon also known as Peter, was called by Jesus Christ to be his disciples. The Scottish people are very religious and as a sign of their respect and devotion to St. Andrew, they decided to put a white cross on their flag.

The second flag was called the Lion Rampant. The picture of the lion was embedded on the flag and it was colored red. The background of the flag is yellow with two double lines on all of the four sides. The Lion Rampant came into existence when Scotland and England united with each other. The English rejected the old flag and so King William I introduced the Lion Rampant. The lion symbolizes power and strength. The two nations believed that there was strength in the union, thus, the symbol of the lion is very appropriate. As to usage, the Saltire flag is considered as a flag for all occasions while the Lion Rampant is commonly used by the monarchy.

June 7, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Sweden

Sweden is a Christian country and this fact reflects the design of their flag. The Swedes adopted Christianity one thousand years ago when the King of Sweden was baptized as a Christian. The flag of Sweden is colored blue and yellow. Blue is the color of the background while yellow is the color of the Scandinavian cross.

You might be wondering why the Swedes chose blue and yellow as the color of their flag. Well, they say that these colors are actually the favorite colors in Sweden. The flag of a country is very important not only to the military but to the merchants as well. You very well know that you cannot navigate the waters or the sea without a flag; otherwise, you will be stopped by the coast guard. This is how they manage the peace and tranquility in the seas.

Merchants and ships registered in Sweden carry the flag of Sweden in every voyage that they make. There is another variation of the flag of Sweden. Some people refer to this type of flag as the flag with triple tail. This is because instead of the usual rectangular shape, this variation has three pointed edges at the right portion of the flag. This kind of flag was used during times of war and it is also being used as a naval ensign.

They say that this design is adapted during war and extreme exigencies just so the government can warn the people about the situation of the country. It is worthwhile to take note that even if the shape of the flag was altered the colors yellow and blue remains to be the only colors of the flag of Sweden. Flags carry a part of every country’s history and the design of flags also changes over time.

June 6, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Spain

Spain is widely known for being one of the pillars of Europe. It is a country which is very rich in history and heritage. Spaniards are well-known for their travelling escapades in the old days. The people of Spain were very adventurous. They believed that there were places that were yet to be discovered. They also believed that they would be the first to set foot on these places. The flag of Spain was carried on every voyage that was made.

The flag of Spain is colored red and yellow. The red stripes can be found on the top and bottom portion of the flag. The yellow portion is the largest among the three stripes. On the yellow stripe, you can find two pillars which is colored white and gold on the top and bottom part of those pillars. They say that these pillars symbolize the Pillars of Hercules.

In between the pillars is a crowned shield. The crown was placed on the flag to represent the ruling of the monarchy. Spain is ruled by the leadership of the King and the Queen. It has been such for hundreds of years. Spanish historians say that the pillars also represent Gibraltar and Ceuta. These are beautiful places in Spain.

At present though, there are still several conflicts which must be resolved between Spain and Gibraltar. Of course, you cannot always avoid conflicts such as these. Gibraltar does not want to be under the leadership of Spain anymore. Needless to say, it wants to be a colony of England. It is also interesting to know that Spaniards after completing their units in the military service makes a pledge of allegiance before the flag. They call this the jura de bandera or oath before the flag. This is the only time that the citizens take their oath before the flag of Spain.

June 5, 2011 at 4:52 am | 1 comment

Flag of Slovakia

You may think that a flag is only a piece of cloth that are being hanged on a flagpole and which can be seen on all government premises. This is not the concept of a flag for it symbolizes the country for which it stands. Every flag has its own history which is deeply etched within the hearts of its people. You may talk about nationalism and independence and the Slovakian flag spells it all.

Slovakia was once connected with the country of Hungary. This is also the very reason why when both countries separated; Slovakia still adopted some of the designs of the flag of Hungary. Thus, came about the design of the coat of arms with the two horizontal lines intersecting with one diagonal line across. The design of the Slovakian flag is so simple. The flag is horizontally divided into three portions. The color of the top portion is white, the middle portion is blue and the bottom portion is red.

Even the religious beliefs of the Slovakian people are etched on their flag. Most of the people in Slovakia are Christian Orthodox. This is also the same reason why they came up with a cross-like symbol on their flag. Below the cross-like symbol is a mountain which symbolizes the three main mountainous regions of the country. These regions are the following: Matra, Fatra, and Tatra. Slovakia is a very beautiful country with green mountains.

The country was occupied by Germany during World War II and it has been under the German government for quite some time. Freedom was only restored in 1990 when Germany finally released Slovakia to the people. The flag was only legally adopted in 1992 when the people approved of the design. This simple flag means a lot to its people because long had they waited for the day of freedom

June 4, 2011 at 4:52 am | 2 comments

Flag of Mexico

The flag is being used on several occasions. In times of war when a flag was raised in a particular place, it means that the area is already occupied by the soldiers of the country who owns the flag. It is also placed on top of a coffin whenever a person who has either served the government as an elected leader or who had served the military or police force died. The flag of Mexico is divided vertically into three equal stripes. The first stripe is colored green, the middle stripe which contains the emblem is colored white and the third stripe is colored red. Historians were able to trace back the history of the Mexican flag to the time of the Aztec culture. The Aztecs is one of the oldest cultures that ever existed.

Aztecs believed in many gods and they had this vision of an eagle clutching a snake in its claws. They interpreted this as a sign from the gods for the Aztecs to find the eagle and to build their own colony on the exact place where they will find the eagle. The Aztecs made the long journey until they were able to have a glimpse of the Mexican eagle so there they built their homes and migrated. It is a place which is near a lake so they had access to water. Thus, this is where the idea of an eagle which served as an emblem on the Mexican flag. Mexico is actually a country which is very rich in terms of cultural heritage. The old civilization of Aztecs grew and the people today are called Mexicans. For the Mexicans, the color green on their flag means hope; white means being pure and honest, and red is for the bravery of the people of Mexico who continued to fight for freedom even to the extent of losing their lives.

June 3, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Canada

The flag is considered as an emblem of a nation. This is also the same reason why the flag of Canada can be found in all its government offices, all government schools as well as private schools, hospitals, military headquarters and camps. The flag must be respected with honor, dignity and pride by its people. The desecration of the flag is a very serious offense and the culprit will be severely punished for such actions.

The flag of Canada was vertically divided into three parts. The first and the third part are equal in size while the middle part is the biggest because it contains an emblem of the country. The first and third parts are colored red while the middle part is colored white. There is a red maple leaf on the middle part of the flag. The maple leaf is quite big and stays at the center so every individual passing by will definitely recognize that such flag is the flag of Canada.

There are numerous occasions when a country is recognized worldwide because of the people who became the leaders of that particular country and especially if such leaders made a mark in history. It was only in the year 1965 that Canada finally had its own flag. Before 1965 Canada had been using the union flag which is also a flag being used by the Confederates association. Do you know that the Canadian government actually tried several times to have their own design of their flag but actually failed? It is true and it was only in 1965 when their efforts actually paid but even if that is the case, they still have to draft the design which is to be approved by the majority. Finally, after the lapse of forty-two days, the red maple leaf was approved and the Canadian flag flew into the air.

June 2, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Scandinavia

Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Faroe Islands have their own individual flags. However, the flags of these countries are considered to be the same when it comes to the color combinations. The colors present in the flag of Scandinavia are white, blue, gold and red. All the flags in Scandinavian countries are also based on a Crusader cross. This cross is sometimes referred to as the Scandinavian cross or the Nordic cross.

All flags in the Scandinavian countries are known to originate from Dannebrog which is a Danish cloth on the 13th century. In fact, one of the oldest flags in the world is called Dannebrog which is the flag of Denmark. The Nordic cross or Scandinavian cross which is present in all Scandinavian flags is used to represent Christianity. Originally, the cross has a square shape. But after the flags of Scandinavia have been extended horizontally, the upright arm of the Scandinavian cross was also moved closer into the flag’s hoist. The first Scandinavian cross flag which is composed of three colors is that of Norway. Since then, Scandinavian countries tend to include the cross in their individual flags. But despite the fact that Scandinavian countries share similar pattern when it comes to their flags, each of their flags still have individual histories and unique symbolism.

The Scandinavian cross is always considered to be a historic symbol in all the flags of Scandinavia. All Scandinavian countries tend to follow the basic traditional design of the flag. This is the main reason why the flags of Scandinavian countries tend to have similar designs. However, this does not mean that all flags in these countries are the same. Scandinavian countries still make it a point to individualize their own flags. They do this by adding minor details on the flag that easily set them apart. This is the reason why despite the fact that Scandinavian flags have similar patterns, one can still easily distinguish each of the flag.

June 1, 2011 at 4:52 am | No comment

Flag of Republic of Macedonia

The current and official flag of Republic of Macedonia is said to be first adopted last October 5, 1995. Since the Macedonian state has gold and red for its national and characteristic colors, these colors can also be seen in its national flag. Its flag is represented by a golden sun which is placed within a red surface. The sun has eight rays and the rays appear to extend up to the red field center. The sun which is embossed in the flag of Macedonia is referred to as the Vergina Sun.

The Vergina Sun, which is also referred to as the Macedonian Star, the Star of Vergina or Argead Star, is considered to be the name provided to a stylish sun or star with sixteen rays. The Verginia sun was actually unearthed on the year 1977 during the excavations done by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos in Vergina which is situated in the northern region of Macedonia.

Andronikos was able to discover it within the tombs of the ancient kings of Macedon. He found it on the golden larnax within the tombs and he once described his discovery as sunburst, starburst or star. However, there are some incoherencies with his discovery, which is why it was not yet completely adopted as a national symbol within the Republic of Macedonia.

After several years, the Vergina Sun was rediscovered and it was found on the larnax of Alexander the Great’s mother. Since then, the Vergina Sun has been made as one of the political symbols of modern Macedonia.

Because of the deep connection of the Vergina Sun to the Republic of Macedonia, it was embossed in its national flag. Until today, the flag with its embossed Vergina Sun is considered to be the official and national flag of the Republic of Macedonia. From the moment it was adopted in October 1995, it has been used by the Macedonian people to represent their independence.

May 30, 2011 at 5:11 am | No comment

Flag of France

The flag of France is being referred to as the tricolor. Its history goes back from the time of the French Revolution. It consists of three colors, namely royal blue, white and red. Although there are many different flags that exist, the most popular is the blue shield and yellow lilies with white background.

What do these colors represent? Red is said to stand for courage. It also represents Saint Denis, the patron saint of Paris. Blue is being represented as caring for the poor. It also is the representation of loyalty and justice. White, on the other hand, represents peace and honesty. Sometimes the color of the flag can also be associated with the three estates or regimes – the clergy, nobility, and bourgeoisie. Blue, representing the bourgeoisie class, always appears first, and red, which represents the nobility, always appears last.

This flag is 1.5 times longer than its height. Originally its proportion is 30% blue, 33% white and 37% red. But it was Napoleon’s idea that it should be changed to be equal in width.

What makes this flag unique? Basically, its colors are unique in their own ways. The tricolors merely symbolize its history and how things were before the revolution. But if you are going to visit France today, there is only one thing that is noticeable. It is believed that France is such a patriotic nation indeed that wherever you turn your eyes a flag would be seen flying high.

Although the colors red, white, and blue can be seen in the flags of some other countries, the bands on the French flag are horizontal in shape. After Napoleon was overthrown the throne was offered to the Count of Chambord. The Count had one condition before he accepted the position – that the flag be returned to its original tricolors.

May 29, 2011 at 5:12 am | 3 comments

Polish Zloty

If you have been to Poland or have tried your luck in the Forex market, you have probably heard of the Polish zloty. Zloty is Poland’s currency. If you are wondering about the meaning of the word, the word ‘zloty’ literally means ‘golden.’ The word is derived from the Polish term ‘zloto’ which means ‘gold.’ One zloty is equal to 100 groszy. The plural form of this currency is zlotys and the word zloty is used in English speaking countries and in other parts of the world to refer to Poland’s currency.

Polish zloty might not be as popular as the US dollar but it also has a great history just like every country’s currency.

• Zlotys come in bills and coins. The National Bank of Poland is the only bank who has the right to issue zlotys in Poland. The coins range from 1 groszy to 5 zlotys while the bills range from 10 to 200 zlotys.
• The appearance of the zloty is similar to most bank notes because they also feature historical figures and symbols. For instance, the 50 zloty bill has King Casimir III on the front side and his royal seal, an eagle, on the reverse side. On the 200 zloty bill, you will see Sigismund I face one side and an eagle with the letter S, Sigismund I’s royal seal, on the other side.
• Zloty has been used since the Middle Ages. At first, ancient people referred to all types of gold coins as zloty. But in the late 1400s, the national currency, zloty, was approved by the Sejm. As the value of the currency decreases over time, the zloty became a silver coin.
• The value of one zloty is equal to 0.35 US dollar. Learning about the value of any currency is important especially if you are trading in the Forex market or if you plan to work in Poland.

May 28, 2011 at 5:57 am | 1 comment

Flag of Luxembourg

Although the flag of Luxembourg had been used in the year 1848, it was officially adopted in 1972. The colors of the flag are white, red, and blue. The colors of the flag are said to be derived from the counts, dukes, and grand dukes of Luxembourg.

The colors were branded during the Belgian Revolution in 1830, and the flag was officially designed in 1845, ten years after Luxembourg finally declared its independence from Germany. Inspired by the flag in France, the colors of the flag in Luxembourg are based on the coat of arms of its Grand Duke, Count Henry, during the 13th century. It has a red lion with white and blue stripes in the background. Such a coat of arms may be dated back to the medieval times.

The flag in Luxembourg is also known to be a bit similar to that of Netherlands’ flag. The only major difference is that its blue color is considered lighter than the flag in Netherlands. The flag in Netherlands, aside from its darker blue color, also uses a less oblong shape. The great similarity between the flags of Netherlands and Luxembourg, however, does not have any historical connection. Such similarity is known to be purely coincidental.

Even though the flag, with its three colors and horizontal design, was fixed last June 12, 1845, it was not until the 23rd of June, 1972, that the flag was officially adopted. Until today, this flag has been in existence and it has been used as a symbol of independence in Luxembourg. Although it is a bit similar to that of Netherlands, the flag of Luxembourg still owns a trace of uniqueness. It is the main reason why people in Luxembourg still give their utmost respect to their flag.

May 28, 2011 at 5:12 am | No comment

Flag of Malta

Officially adopted on the 21st of September, 1964, the flag of Malta boasts of its unique design and rich history. The flag has the traditional colors used by the Knights of Malta which are red and white. The two colors are branded in the flag equally and vertically.

The colors of the flag are said to be provided in 1091 by Count Roger of Sicily. His banner is said to be composed of checkered red and white flag and this is something that he offered to the people of Malta. On the upper left side of the flag which is outlined in red, George cross was imprinted. It was actually added in the year 1940 when the king of Britain, King George VI, presented the cross to islanders because of their unquestionable gallantry during the World War II.

George Cross is considered to be the most noticeable symbol in the flag of Malta. The motto “for gallantry” is being encircled in the cross. The cross was actually awarded to the whole population of Malta by King George VI after they have exhibited exceptional gallantry and bravery. The cross was originally placed in a blue canton but in 1964, it was being placed within a red fimbriation. The flag was then officially adopted on that same year, after Malta was granted by the British Empire a dominion status. The dominion status was still used until Malta became a Republic in 1971. Even after Malta became a Republic, the flag was still used.

The flag of Malta is said to be very unique because it was decorated from another country. The design of the Maltese flag can be associated to United Kingdom. Its civil ensign is also considered to be hugely different. Its red field and white border combined with the white cross which symbolizes the gallantry of the people in Malta. The Maltese flag is considered to be one of a kind.

May 27, 2011 at 5:12 am | 2 comments

Norwegian Krone


Norwegian bank notes
Photo by: Wikipedia, Creative Commons

The krone or kroner in plural is the official currency of Norway. Its ISO 4217 code is NOK and its symbol is kr. Its subunit is called the øre. The name of currency, when translated to English, is called “crown.” It was introduced to Norway in 1875 which replaced its currency at that time, the Norwegian speciedaler. It is the result of Norway joining the Scandinavian Monetary Union which was established in 1873 (Norway joined two years later) but persisted only until the World War I. In the union, the name of the currency is krone, for Denmark and Norway, and krona for Sweden. After the dissolution of the monetary union, Norway, together with Denmark and Sweden, kept the names of their currencies.

The Norwegian krone is divided into 100 øre. The coins were introduced to Norway in 1874 and some coins in 1875. Sometime between 1875 and 1878, new coins were introduced. The denominations consisted of bronze, silver, and gold coins. Bronze composed the 1, 2, and 5 øre, silver composed the 10, 25 and 50 øre along with 1 and 2 kroner, and gold composed the 10 and 20 kroner. The 2 kroner coins were last issued on 1917. Production of 1 and 2 øre was ceased in 1972, 5 and 25 øre in 1982, and 10 øre coins in 1992.

The current coins in Norway are not composed of bronze, silver and gold anymore. Coins that are currently in circulation are 50 øre (made up of Copper, Zinc, and Tin), cupronickel 1 and 5 kroner, 10 and 20 kroner (Zinc and Nickel). These new coins were circulated gradually during 1994 to 1998.

Banknotes for 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 kroner were introduced in 1877. Coins replaced the 5 kroner notes in 1963 and 10 kroner notes in 1984. 200 kroner were introduced 10 years later.

Today, 1 NOK is worth about 0.18 dollars or 1 USD = 5.4 NOK. In 2009 to the beginning of 2010, 1 USD = 5.8 NOK. In mid 2002, 1 NOK is about 0.137 USD, or, 1 USD is about 7.36 NOK.

May 25, 2011 at 5:57 am | No comment

Flag of Monaco

Known to have the oldest national flag designs all over the world, the flag of Monaco is popular for its equal and horizontal bands of color. The colors present in this flag are red, which is situated on top, and white. Both are known to be the heraldic colors since 1339 in the House of Grimaldi.

However, in 1881, a newer version of the flag was adopted. The present design of the flag came into existence last April 4, 1881 and this was introduced to the entire population of Monaco through Prince Charles III. The present flag is considered to be a great representation of the Principality of Monaco. Founded by Prince Charles III, it was created based on the colors in Monaco’s coat of arms.

The present flag of Monaco, however, is still created similarly to that of the older version. It still bore the colors red and white, which are divided horizontally. The only difference is that the original flag contained an older version of the coat of arms of Monaco.

The Monaco flag is used by its people in a number of ways. It is used as a civil and national flag on land. People in Monaco also use the flag as a civil and national pennant on sea. The flag in Monaco can also be compared similarly to the flags of other countries. It is somewhat identical to the Indonesian flag except for its height to width ratio. It is also a bit similar to the flag of Hesse, which is a German state. The only difference can be found on the length of the two flags. The flag of Monaco can also be similarly associated to that of Singapore, Poland and Thuringia, which is also a state in Germany. This flag is considered to be one of the oldest flags in the world.

May 25, 2011 at 5:12 am | No comment

Flag of Netherlands

The national flag of Netherlands comes in three colors. It has horizontal colors of blue, white and red. It was introduced in the year 1572 but was officially adopted only on the 19th day of February, 1937. This flag is known to be the first flag to three colors. Until today, this three color flag is considered to be the official national flag of the Netherlands.

With the three colors present in the flag of the Netherlands, you can easily set it apart from the rest. Its horizontal fesses are of equal sizes. There is a time when the Netherlands flag was composed not of red, white and blue but with orange, white and blue. The orange color present in that flag was associated to Prince William I of Orange, who is a Dutch prince. Prince William I was able to join the Dutch nationalists in their struggle for freedom from Spain. After they obtained independence from Spain, the Netherlands created a flag with horizontal colors orange, white and blue. This is done to show respect to Prince William I who struggled enough to provide independence to his people. Because the flag was first created to show respect to Prince William I, it was referred to as the Prince’s flag in the past.

However, in the middle of the 17th century, the orange dye in the flag was replaced by red. It is because the people have noticed that the orange dye was actually unstable. After some time of using it, the orange dye turned to red. It is the main reason why it was replaced by red. Red was then referred to as one of the official colors of the flag. It was on the year 1937 that the flag was officially adopted by the people of Netherlands.

May 24, 2011 at 5:12 am | 2 comments

Lithuanian Litas

The official currency of Lithuania is called the litas, or litai or litų in plural. Its ISO 4217 code is LTL and its symbol is Lt. It is subdivided into 100 centų or centai, or centas in singular. The litas was introduced as independence was declared by Lithuania after the Second World War in 1922. In June 1993, it was reintroduced. The name comes from the name of the country, which is Lithuania.

In October 1992, the first litas replaced the currencies issued by the Germans when it was introduced. The rate of the litas to the US dollar at that time was 10 litas = 1 USD. Even though the Lithuanian economy faced depression, it remained to be a stable currency. In 1938, the rate was 5.9 litai = 1 US dollar before it disappeared in 1941.

1925 saw the introduction of coins with denominations of silver 1, 2, and 5 litas coins and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centų. In 1936, 10 litas were introduced. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 centai notes and 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, and 100 litai notes started circulating in 1922.

When the litas was brought back to circulation and became the county’s currency again, it replaced the tatonas currency of Lithuania.

The litas was first thought of by the officials to be introduced even before the declaration of Independence and was printed in the United States Banknote Corporation and was shipped to Lithuania in 1991.

The litas was ready for introduction by 1992 but due to its low quality, it was redesigned and reprinted before it was introduced in June 1993. The rate at that time between the US dollar and litas was 4.5 LTL = 1 USD. On April 1994 to February 2002, the rate became 4 LTL = 1 USD.

Aluminum 1, 2, and 5 centai coins, bronze 10, 20, and 50 centų, and cupro-nickel litas coins were introduced in 1993. 10, 20, and 50 centų coins in nickel-brass were introduced in 1997, 1 litas in cupro-nickel and bi-metallic 2 and 5 litas coins in 1998.

The designs of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 litai notes were found to be poor and easily copied so they introduced a new series of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 litai notes. All the first series notes were withdrawn except for 100 litas. In 1997, 200 litai notes were introduced and 500 litai notes in 2000.

May 22, 2011 at 5:57 am | No comment