List of flags with Christian symbolism

Last updated

This list exclusively includes the official flags of administrative bodies or territorial jurisdictions, representing current or former territories, states, counties, and provinces.

Contents

List

FlagEntityDates usedReligious characteristics
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama 1895–presentA crimson cross of St. Andrew [1]
Flag of Aland.svg Åland 1954–present Nordic Cross Flag
Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta 1968–present Saint George's Cross
Flag of Andorra.svg Andorra1866–presentIncludes a bishop's mitre, representing the Bishop of Urgell [2]
Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia1990–presentThe color red emblematizes the maintenance of the Christian faith [3]
Flag of Asturias.svg Asturias 1990–present Alpha and Omega and the Victory Cross [4]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia1903–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick [5]
Flag of Bermuda.svg Bermuda1999–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Ceylon (1875-1948).svg British Ceylon 1875–1948Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of British Columbia.svg British Columbia 1960–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of British Honduras (1919-1981).svg British Honduras 1919–1981Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg British Hong Kong 1871–1997Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg British Indian Ocean Territory 1990–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
British Weihaiwei flag.svg British Weihaiwei 1903–1930Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Calabria.svg Calabria 1992–present Teutonic and Byzantine crosses
Flag of the City of London.svg City of London 1381–present Saint George's Cross
Flag of Nigeria (1914-1952).svg Colonial Nigera 1954–1960Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg Cook Islands 1979–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark1219–present Nordic Cross Flag [6]
Flag of Dominica.svg Dominica1978–presentThe cross represents the Trinity [7]
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg Dominican Republic1863–presentA Bible, a cross and the color white stands for salvation [8]
Flag of Kenya (1895-1921).svg East Africa Protectorate 1895–1921Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador1912–presentDios, Unión, Libertad (God, Union, Liberty) [9]
Flag of England.svg England–present Saint George's Cross
Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg Falkland Islands 1999–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg Faroe Islands 1940–present Nordic Cross Flag
Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji1970–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew, St. Patrick and a dove
Flag of Finland.svg Finland1918–present Nordic Cross Flag [6]
Flag of Florida.svg Florida 1900–present St. Andrews cross and Motto (In God We Trust) [10]
Flag of Galicia.svg Galicia 1984–presentA chalice joined to a silver host [11]
Flag of Georgia.svg Georgia2004–present Jerusalem cross
Flag of Greece.svg Greece1978–present Greek cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy
Flag of Guernsey.svg Guernsey1985–present Saint George's Cross, Norman cross
Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii 1845–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland1944–present Nordic Cross Flag [6]
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland1922–presentThe green signifies the Catholic majority. The orange signifies the Protestant minority [12]
Flag of Ingrian people.svg Ingria 1919–present Nordic Cross Flag [13]
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Kingdom of Italy 1861–1946 Christian cross
Flag of Jersey.svg Jersey1981–presentSaltire
Vexillum Regni Hierosolymae.svg Kingdom of Jerusalem 1162–1291 Jerusalem cross [14]
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein1982–present Christian cross [15]
Flag of Liguria.svg Liguria 1997–present Saint George's Cross
Flag of Malta.svg Malta1964–present George Cross
Flag of Manitoba.svg Manitoba 1965–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Mississippi.svg Mississippi 2021–presentMotto (In God We Trust)
Flag of Moldova.svg Moldova1990–present Orthodox Cross
Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro2004–present Orthodox Cross. [15]
Flag of Montserrat.svg Montserrat 1960–presentIrish figure Erin holding a Christian cross
Flag of Moscow oblast.svg Moscow Oblast –present Orthodox Cross
Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales 1876–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand1902–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick [15]
Flag of Niue.svg Niue 1902–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Norway.svg Norway1821–present Nordic Cross Flag [6]
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg Nova Scotia 1929–present Saint Andrew's Cross [16]
Flag of Ontario.svg Ontario 1965–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Orenburg Oblast.svg Orenburg Oblast 1996–present Orthodox Cross [17]
2007 Flag of Orkney.svg Orkney 2007–present Nordic Cross Flag
Flag of et-Parnu.svg Pärnu 1934–present Nordic Cross Flag [18]
Flag of Piedmont.svg Piedmont 1995–present Christian cross
Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal1911–presentCompound cross of five quinas, each one charged with five saltire-arranged bezants, representing the five wounds of Christ
Flag of Quebec.svg Quebec 1948–present Christian cross, fleurs-de-lys stand for the Virgin Mary [19]
Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland 1876–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick, Maltese cross
Flag of Saint Helena.svg Saint Helena 1984–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of San Marino.svg San Marino2011–present Christian cross [15]
Flag of Sardinia.svg Sardinia 1999–present Saint George's Cross
Skanska flaggan.svg Scania 1902–present Nordic Cross Flag [20]
Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland1542–present Saint Andrew's Cross
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia2004–present Serbian cross symbolizes Serbian Orthodoxy [21]
Flag of Shetland.svg Shetland 2005–present Nordic Cross Flag
Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia1992–present Patriarchal cross [22]
Flag of South Australia.svg South Australia 1904–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Spain.svg Spain1981–present Christian cross [15]
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden1906–present Nordic Cross Flag [6]
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland1841–present Greek cross [23]
Flag of Tasmania.svg Tasmania 1876–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga1875–presentThe red field symbolizes the Blood of Christ, while the white canton symbolizes the purity of Jesus and contains a Greek cross, representing Christianity itself. [24] [25] [26]
Flag of Tristan da Cunha.svg Tristan da Cunha 2002–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew, St. Patrick and motto (Our faith is our strength)
Flag of Tuvalu.svg Tuvalu1997–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg Uganda Protectorate 1914–1962Crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom1707–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick [27]
Flag of Vatican City (2023-present).svg Vatican City1929–presentCrossed keys of Saint Peter and the Papal Tiara centered in the white band [28]
Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria 1877–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of Western Australia.svg Western Australia 1953–presentCrosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick
Flag of the City of Wilmington.png Wilmington 1963–present Nordic Cross Flag [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Denmark</span>

The flag of Denmark is red with a white Nordic cross, which means that the cross extends to the edges of the flag and that the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Finland</span>

The national flag of Finland, also known in Finnish as the Siniristilippu, dates from the beginning of the 20th century. On a white background, it features a blue Nordic cross, which represents Christianity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Liechtenstein</span>

The national flag of the Principality of Liechtenstein consists of two horizontal bands, one blue and one red, charged with a gold crown in the canton. In use since 1764 and officially enshrined into the nation's constitution in 1921, it has been the flag of the principality since that year. The crown was added to the flag in 1937, after the country discovered at the Summer Olympics held the previous year that their flag was identical to the Haitian civil flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Gabon</span> National flag

The flag of Gabon is a tricolour consisting of three horizontal green, yellow, and blue bands. Adopted in 1960 to replace the previous colonial flag containing the French Tricolour at the canton, it has been the flag of the Gabonese Republic since the country gained independence that year. The design of the present flag entailed the removal the Tricolour and the widening of the yellow stripe at the centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Iceland</span>

The flag of Iceland was officially described in Law No. 34, set out on 17 June 1944, the day Iceland became a republic. The law is entitled "The Law of the National Flag of Icelanders and the State Arms" and describes the Icelandic flag as follows:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Tonga</span>

The national flag of Tonga consists of a red field with a white canton charged with a red couped cross. Adopted in 1875 after being officially enshrined into the nation's constitution, it has been the flag of the Kingdom of Tonga since that year. The constitution stipulates that the national flag can never be changed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the British Virgin Islands</span> British overseas territory flag

The flag of the British Virgin Islands was adopted by Royal Warrant on 15 November 1960 after the islands were made into a separate British colony. Previously, the territory was administered as part of the British Leeward Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the United States Virgin Islands</span>

The flag of the United States Virgin Islands was adopted on May 17, 1921. It consists of a simplified version of the coat of arms of the United States between the letters V and I. The yellow-colored eagle holds a sprig of laurel in one talon, which symbolizes victory, and three blue arrows in the other, which represent the three major islands that make up the U.S. Virgin Islands: Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, and Saint John. When the Virgin Islands were owned by Denmark, the flag was a blue ensign with the Danish flag, or Dannebrog, in the canton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the Cayman Islands</span>

The flag of the Cayman Islands consists of a Blue Ensign defaced with the British overseas territory's coat of arms. Adopted in 1959 to supplement the Union Jack and to replace the flag of the Colony of Jamaica, it has been the flag of the Cayman Islands since the territory was granted self-government that year. The design of the present flag entailed removing the white disc and outlining the coat of arms with a white trim, although the previous version is often used in an official capacity. The Cayman Islands' flag is similar to the flags of eight other British Overseas Territories, which are also Blue Ensigns with their respective coats of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of the Gambia</span> National flag

The flag of The Gambia is the national flag of The Gambia. It consists of three horizontal red, blue and green bands separated by two thin white lines. Adopted in 1965 to replace the British Blue Ensign defaced with the arms of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate, it has been the flag of the Republic of the Gambia since the country gained independence that year. It remained unchanged throughout the Gambia's seven-year confederation with Senegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands</span> National coat of arms of the Falkland Islands

The coat of arms of the Falkland Islands is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with a ram on tussock grass in a blue field at the top and a sailing ship on white and blue wavy lines underneath. Adopted in 1948, it has been the coat of arms of the Falkland Islands since 29 September of that year, except for the two-month occupation of the territory during the Falklands War in 1982. The escutcheon is featured on the flag of the territory. The ram represents the territory's past primary industry of sheep farming, while the ship symbolises the Desire which reportedly first sighted the islands at the end of the 16th century. The grass indicates the vegetation of the Falklands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordic cross flag</span> Flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross

A Nordic cross flag is a flag bearing the design of the Nordic or Scandinavian cross, a cross symbol in a rectangular field, with the centre of the cross shifted towards the hoist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil flag</span> Flag that is flown by civilians on nongovernmental installations or craft

A civil flag is a version of the national flag that is flown by civilians on nongovernmental installations or craft. The use of civil flags was more common in the past to denote buildings or ships not crewed by the military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Fiji</span>

The coat of arms of Fiji is the heraldic device consisting of a shield divided quarterly by Cross of St. George and charged with a gold lion at the top, supported by two Fijian warriors, one on each side, and topped with a canoe as the crest. Adopted in 1908 by a Royal Warrant, it has been the coat of arms of Fiji since that year, having been retained after independence in 1970. The escutcheon from the arms is featured on the flag of Fiji.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Montserrat</span>

The coat of arms of Montserrat consists of an escutcheon (shield) charged with a woman in a green dress holding a golden harp and a black cross. In use since at least 1909, it has been the official coat of arms of the Caribbean island of Montserrat since the island became a British Crown colony in 1962. The escutcheon is featured on the flag of the territory.

Religion in national symbols can often be found in national anthems or flags. This has led to controversy in some secular states in regard to the separation of church and state, when the national symbol is officially sanctioned by a government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Mali</span>

The emblem of Mali is a national emblem consisting of a circle charged with a bird at the top, a mosque in the centre flanked by two bows and arrows, and the rising sun at the bottom. Adopted thirteen years after the country gained independence, it has been the seal of the Republic of Mali since 1973. It is utilized on official documents as a coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Sint Maarten</span>

The flag of Sint Maarten consists of a white triangle situated at the hoist charged with the constituent country's coat of arms, along with two horizontal bands of cherry red and navy blue. Adopted in 1985 shortly after the territory was granted a coat of arms, it has been the flag of Sint Maarten since 13 June of that year. Since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, it has been the sole flag used in the constituent country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Senegal</span>

The coat of arms of Senegal is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with a lion on the left half and a baobab tree on the right, flanked by palm branches and topped with a five-pointed green star at the top.

References

  1. "Alabama (U.S.)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2023-12-18. The state flag was to be a crimson cross of St. Andrew on a field of white.
  2. Zartman, Rubin (2002). Power and Negotiation. University of Michigan Press. p. 111. ISBN   0472089072.
  3. "General Information on the government of Armenia's website". gov.am. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  4. "Asturias (Spain)". CRW Flags. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  5. Foley, Carol A. (1996). The Australian flag : colonial relic or contemporary icon?. Sydney: Federation Press. p. 18. ISBN   9781862871885.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Temperman, Jeroen (2010). State Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. ISBN   978-9004181489. Many predominantly Christian states show a cross, symbolising Christianity, on their national flag. Scandinavian crosses or Nordic crosses on the flags of the Nordic countries–Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden–also represent Christianity.
  7. "Flag Description: Dominica". World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  8. "Flag Description: Dominican Republic". World Factbook. CIA. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  9. "Description of the Flag of El Salvador". fotw.info. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  10. "State Flag". dos.fl.gov. Florida Department of State. Retrieved 2023-12-18. The current design of Florida's state flag was adopted in 1900. In that year, Florida voters ratified a constitutional amendment based on an 1899 joint resolution of the state legislature to add diagonal red bars, in the form of a St. Andrew's cross, to the flag.
  11. "Galicia (Spain)". CRW Flags. 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  12. Talocci, Mauro (1982). Guide to the Flags of the World . Morrow. p.  271. ISBN   0688011411.
  13. "Ingrian flag". heninen.net. Retrieved 2024-01-12. It is a Nordic cross flag with a yellow background and a red scandinavian cross with an inserted narrow blue cross.
  14. "Kingdom of Jerusalem 1099–1291". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "64 countries have religious symbols on their national flags". Pew Research. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-25.
  16. Smith, Whitney. "Flag of Nova Scotia". brittanica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica . Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  17. "Coat of arms of the Orenburg region". Президентская библиотека имени Б.Н. Ельцина. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  18. "Symbols of Pärnu". parnu.ee. Retrieved 2023-12-29. The flag of Pärnu is blue, with a white cross.
  19. Smith, Whitney (January 26, 2001). "Flag of Quebec". Encyclopaedia Britannica .
  20. "Historien om Skånelands flagga". skanskaakademien.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  21. Temperman, Jeroen (2010). State-Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance. Brill Academic. p. 88. ISBN   9789004181489. The cross on the flag of Dominica represents Christianity while the three colours of which the cross consists stand for the Trinity. The coat of arms depicted on the flag of Slovakia shows a double cross. The flag of the Dominican Republic represents Christianity while the three colours of which the cross consists stand for the Trinity. The coat of arms depicted on the flag of Slovakia shows a double cross. The flag of the Dominican Republic shows the words "God, Fatherland, Liberty", an opened bible and a cross (depicted in the coat of arms which is represented in the centre). The 'five-cross-flag' of George shows four small crosses and a large St. George's Cross, referring to the patron saint of Georgia (the national flag of England shows the St. George's Cross as well). The white cross on the flag of Greece symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy. The flag of Moldova shows its coat of arms in the centre: an eagle with a Christian Orthodox cross in its beak. The coat of arms of Serbia, as depicted on the national flag, also shows an Orthodox cross.
  22. "O štátnej vlajke, štátnej zástave, štátnom znaku a štátnej pečati". Joint Czech–Slovak Digital Parliamentary Library. June 1939. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  23. Foley, Carol A. (1 January 1996). The Australian Flag. Federation Press. p. 10. ISBN   9781862871885. The Christian cross, for instance, is one of the oldest and most widely used symbols in the world, and many European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greece and Switzerland, adopted and currently retain the Christian cross on their national flags.
  24. Kindersley Ltd., Dorling (6 January 2009). Complete Flags of the World. Penguin. p. 235. ISBN   9780756654863 . Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  25. "Tonga". The World Factbook. CIA. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  26. Smith, Whitney (24 November 2013). "Flag of Tonga". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 9 August 2014.(subscription required)
  27. "Union Jack". The Royal Household. Retrieved 2013-06-23.
  28. "State of Vatican City: Flag, Coat of Arms and Seal". vatican.va. 2013-06-09. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  29. Purcell, John (2003). American City Flags. Vol. 9–10. Archived from the original on 2019-07-08.