subject: Tricolor Banners - The Flag of France [print this page] I have been to France a couple of times during the last few years. With every visit I noticed that the French are relatively patriotic since one can observe flying flags from all kinds of buildings and flag poles. The flag of France is considered a tricolor banner. This basically means that the flag consists of three (vertical) bands, in this case equally sized. Each band has a different color. From right to left; red, white and blue.
Interestingly, the colors red, white and blue can actually be found on some other flags that identify other countries in the world today. These countries include The Netherlands and Luxemburg. The equally sized bands (3) on these flags are horizontal however.
Like many other nations and territories, different historical banners were also flown by the French government in the past. One such flag was the so called "fleur-de-lis" banner, which was featured on a white background. At the time, the militia of Paris displayed a flag that featured a cockade in blue and red colors, at the beginning of the French Revolution. Note that these colors are featured on today's banner and are also commonly known as the "colors of Paris." The "drapeau tricolore," French for tricolor banner, has been in use since eight-teen thirty.
The French tricolor flown from flag poles in modern times, is fifty percent wider than its height and, except for the French navy, has bands of equal size. Note that (initially) the 3 stripes of the French banner were not equally wide, being in the proportions 30 (blue), 33 (white) and 37 (red). During the reign of Napoleon I, the proportions were changed to make the stripes' width equal. However, by a regulation dated 05/17/1853, the navy of France reverted back to using the original proportions, which it continues to use in our day.
