subject: The National Flag of Greece [print this page] The National Flag of Greece The National Flag of Greece
A very distinguished national flag attached to modern steel flag poles of all kinds, is the Greek or Greece flag. Also referred to as the blue-white, the design shows 9 horizontal stripes or bands, each equally sized. The colors are alternating blue and white. In the canton portion a blue field with a white cross is displayed, which symbolizes the main-stream religion of this beautiful country, Greek Orthodoxy.
Interestingly, and according to the country's cultural tradition(s), the 9 stripes are said to officially symbolize the 9 syllables of the phrase "Freedom or Death" in the Greek language. Others claim that the 9 stripes or bands also represent or symbolize all the letters of the word "freedom." The flag really flies nicely from objects of all kinds, including commercial flag poles.
In terms of short-term economic development Greece has suffered the effects of the economic crisis substantially. By the end of the year 2009, and as a result of both international and local factors, Greece's economy faced its most severe crisis in more than 25 years. Interestingly, during 2010 it came to light that successive Greek governments had been found to have deliberately misinformed the country's economic statistics.
Like other flags of Europe, some controversy remains in existence with regards to the flag's history, especially about the flag's pattern. Fascinatingly, the colors as well as the design of the arrangement of the stripes are said to go back all the way to historical times.
Those especially interested in historical flags of Europe, will notice that there is an interesting comparison between the national flag of Greece and other flags that were flown during different periods of time in European or world history, including the one used by the British East India Company and Old Glory!
Not much information is in existence about the exact reasoning why it was adopted officially in 1822. Some historians have even said that the current design of the flag as shown and flown from small and tall steel flagpoles is based on a Greek flag that was flown before the current one. As with most flag-controversies, and because of a lack of historical information, facts are hard to prove.
