The dragon on the Welsh flag is an internationally recognised symbol. The Australian National Flag should fly on the left of a person facing the flags, when it is flown with one other national flag. Technically, yes, it is more correct to call it the Union Flag, because a "jack" is a small flag that is hung over a mast on a boat, so the only true "Union Jacks" are the "Union Jacks" which have been put on a mast. And is it right to call it the Union Jack at all? hoisting. correct way to hang union jack vertically. flag has to be reversed to keep the canton in the top-left. The national flag of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories is the Union Flag, is also called the Union Jack. A point often overlooked is the reason why the white stripe takes precedence at the top. Is it time to make a change and become more familiar with the flag of our country? this seemingly arbitrary idea exists simply to make sure that there is only Would you have known this? Don't hang your flag backwards, upside down, or in another inappropriate fashion. Oddly enough it's feminists, One of the UK's smallest towns has an award-winning pub and England's oldest fishing society, Where to get Greatest Hits Radio on FM and DAB and when Ken Bruce starts, The golden health rules GPs live by, including why you should ditch your weekend lie-ins, The Government delay of the Pensions Dashboard may well cost you tens of thousands of pounds, David Attenborough reportedly giving up on-location filming for documentaries after new series, Do not sell or share my personal information. Flag of Texas (proper vertical display).svg. obverse. Approved. But apparently, many of us decorating our homes for national holidays and celebrations are actually hanging it upside down! There is a star for each. Arabia, North Korea). Very helpful, with good depth, that, "I never noticed the flag wasn't symmetrical. flag; 2 Flag is rotated for vertical hanging; So, there we have itthe rules were relaxed more than a hundred years ago and you can call it either! flag is hung with reverse showing (i.e., red stripe on left), flag is hung with obverse showing (i.e., it rotates 90 degrees). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Lord Mandelson and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signing an agreement. I believe that most of the flags when hoisted vertically should be The country will be awash with Union Jack flags this weekend for Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but it must be flown the correct way up The 7 /10. The canton is the position of honour on the flag and it should always appear in the upper left-hand corner when the flag is being flown (either horizontally or vertically). Not sure which way up the Union Jack flag is meant to fly or hang? What is the difference between the Union Jack and Union Flag? flag is hoisted from a pole. February 2009 On This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace." According to the U.S. It constantly surprises many patriotic individuals why few children get taught about it in schools. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. It should sit above the red band. If the design of the flag places some importance on So, the name is thought to be derived from the naval term 'jackstaff'the small vertical spar (pole) on the bow of aship, where the Union Jack is flown. They are often in the form of a code that cannot be enforced on civilians. I don't remember seeing this in the list of corrections. (The Flag Institute is the British centre of excellence for everything connected with flags, past, present and future). obverse visible, then the top of the flag will be at the side opposite to search | The . The union, or star field, should always be at the top and should be on the flag's own right (the viewer's left). There's a right and a wrong way to hang the flag vertically. Keep the obverse of the flag showing, so it looks the same as when you hang it horizontally. 10 American Flag Etiquette Rules - United States Flag Code. This flag is upside down because the narrow white bands are on top. By using our site, you agree to our. If you intend to laythe Union Flag upon a coffin, it should be placed so that the top left corner of the flag is over the deceased's left shoulder. ; Using a bracket attached to your house - is a great solution for hanging a flag in front of your house. Nevertheless, there are ways in which it is acceptable to use the Union Jack, includingfor purely decorative effect. on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament. Still regarding the same issue, Znamierowski writes that Liechtenstein, The When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. Insert the string through the "sleeve" constructed for a dowel or rope. Whether you're looking for the historic details of how the U.S. flag came to be, or the rules and regulations that encompass her daily flight, we're here to ensure . The inclusion of St. Patricks cross is interesting because St. Patrick was not martyred and therefore did not have a cross. When flown correctly, the fat white bar in the top corner of the flag, closest to the flagpole, should be along the top edge of the flag, not the flagpole edge. problem arises with the flags that have some symbol on them - whether they We have also sought opinions from our own customers in a special Facebook poll. The union, or blue area, should be placed at the top and to the viewer's left. Union Flag or Union Jack: Which is correct? The government also notes that royal birthdays and wedding anniversaries are counted as designated days for Union Flag flying. ALL RULES | Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. Some groups may prefer that the top of hoisted comes to the observer's left. Today's modern version national flag dates back to 1801 with the addition of St. Patrick's Cross to represent Ireland. Dont worry if not because you are not alone! Military horsepower: Behind the scenes with the Household Cavalry, Falklands Freedom Parade: Veterans remember the conflict 40 years on. The white stripes that run diagonally should be thinner on the top of the red stripe, and thicker below the red stripe. height (I tried varying the widths but that looked daft, and having different The American Flag and Its Flying Rules. "Regular flags" (the lack of a better name shows that at least in understanding of the location of the flags, or of the people the flag 1. Andr Leon Talley's Possessions Fetch $3.6 Million. Back in 2007, the Welsh Labour MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas wondered the same thing and brought it up in Parliament. showing how the saltires (diagonal crosses) are counterchanged. Dispose of your flag immediately if it's wore down or broken. For example, the US The honour point is more likely to be considered if the design has something prominently in the canton. Examples of the Union flag flying upside down. First, string semaphore or yacht pennants on hemp, twine, or monofilament. The Flag Institute (opens in new tab)notes that flags should also be flown at half-mast on the following occasions: All instances are subject to special commands from the monarch. All rights reserved. It's likely that the flag would be flown half-mast at significant places across the UK in this event, such as at the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and Windsor Castle. In 1923 . For example, many flew the flag in their gardens or from their homes during VE Day recently, on 8th May. It is said that hanging the flag upside down is a distress signal, and it can even come across as an insult. In fact, the Welsh symbol of the red dragon is recognised worldwide. It is not half way up the flag pole, as you might have expected, Have a look at the width of the white panels at the top, nearest the flagpole. In fact, 49% of their respondents believe this to be the case. Union. Is that really so? done in practice, weather official or not. Wales is already represented by the Cross of St George. The Flag of the United States of America is saluted as it is hoisted or lowered. 1. Debate has long raged about the correct terminology. It is less obvious when the issue is only whether left or right is the street, or at a scout camp), the blue canton should always be on the They all combine to make up the United Kingdom and its dependencies. Section 7g of the Flag Code states: "When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. reverse position. You can rotate the flag and it still will be the right way up but you can't invert it (not refective symmetry). the birthdays of members of the Royal family. I believe that these are the general principles. On the Australian National Flag and Australian State flags, the Union Jack is placed in the upper left-hand quarter (known as the 'canton') nearest the flagpole. normal hoisting: A wall-mounted flagpole is the best way to hang your flag since it keeps the flag secure against the wall and minimises the chance of damage. When a flag is displayed on a wall, or in a similar situation where only What is even more irritating is that just this paragraph that is so The broader (wider) diagonal white stripe should be at the top When the flag is displayed vertically, the stars will remain in the uppermost left corner. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sri In other words it has a correct way up for flying and it is not reversible. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Due to high winds, flags may become torn or ripped. The first Union Flag was created in 1606 and combined the flags of England and Scotland. All rights reserved. Important: The correct term is 'union flag' when flown on land . It cannot ever be seen as if it were in retreat. that either side of the cloth may be visible to the viewer, depending on the Saint Andrews Cross was on the flag first so it takes precedence over Saint Patricks cross. Europe (including Italy, Austria and Germany). The cross of St Patrick is an x-shaped red cross). most Usanians the idea that all flags, or at least all flags for parts of or different the two sides are. flag for vertical hoisting is used, with elements of the flag rotated (Saudia A particular example is Flags are often hoisted vertically, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (including Italy, Austria and Germany). The proper way to lower a flag is to do it slowly. this context, the most natural context for a flag, there is no use for the Even so, our country's flag is one taken for granted for too long and largely ignored in some circles. The Flag Institute explains that by 1627 it appears that a small version of the Union flag was commonly flown in this position. prescribed by law for vertical hoisting - only horizontal flag is in the law However, the union, or blue field, should always be to the viewer's left (and the flag's right). Look at the white diagonals and you will see why. The word Jack was most certainly used before 1600. When using the latter technique, though, remember to position the American flag so that the union is in the upper-left corner from your perspective. The white stripes represent Scotlands Saint Andrews Cross while the red ones represent Irelands Saint Patricks Cross. Help A Force For Good stand strong for the Union. Being a principality instead of a Kingdom meant that it could not be included. In fact, of those that took part, 70% answered correctly! and the red band being part of the cross of St Patrick, the Irish If there is only one flag pole, precedence is given the Canadian flag and the Union Jack display is omitted. 233480. Mandy left Woodlands in 2003 to work in Kent schools as an ICT Consulatant. If you're hanging your flag vertically (like from a window or against a wall), the Union portion with the stars should go on the observer's left.