Switzerland

Who owns a flag? Technically, with exception of private flags, about 90% of all flags are in public domain, i.e., the subject represented by the flag doesn't gain royalties by the use of it. It's the main reason flags can be seen everywhere: at Internet, on magazines and newspapers, etc., although commonly they're protected of being used in merchandises, but you still can see it.

Today I'll speak about a successful example: Switzerland. See the flags (first is national flag, second is the civil and state ensign):

The flag of Switzerland is good: simple, easy to be remembered. And it's almost impossible not associate the Swiss flag with this symbol-products: Swiss Army knives, clocks, chocolate. For instance, look at the trademarks of two official Swiss Army knives manufacturers: Victorinox and Wenger.

If it's right or not, it's not the question; the truth is that flags, principally when they're easily distinguishable, can still favor national economy!

Did you liked the post? No? Your opinion is welcome on comments. By the way, answer me: in your country, is there any enterprise that associates its products to national flag?

Nauru

The today's flag is very beautiful and has an awesome symbolism: it's Nauru, an island in Pacific Ocean that constitutes a country only bigger than Monaco and Vatican City. However, its flag is worthy of a great nation!

This flag has many characteristics of a great flag: good geometric layout, contrasting colors, simplicity, originality, etc.

It's alright, isn't it? Now let me talk a little about Nauru flag history and symbolism. It was adopted in 1968, being designed by an Australian flag manufacturer. The blue represents, in some way, the ocean. The yellow line represents the Equator, and the white represents the island position just below the Equator. The star is white, representing the phosphate — the great wealth of island in the past —, and is twelve-pointed as expressing the twelve original tribes that have inhabited the country.

What's your opinion about Nauru flag? Please, leave your comment.

Element of flags: The Southern Cross

Today I'll write about the Southern Cross (also know by its scientific name, "Crux"), a symbol present in flags, coat of arms and other design issues from everywhere in Southern Hemisphere. Maybe, you, in Northern Hemisphere, want to know: what do you see in special in Southern Cross? Myself, a Brazilian, could answer: everything.

[Note: This flag is from Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, Brazil. For me, the simplest demonstration of Crux majesty]

Firstly, it's important what the Southern Cross means: the South, its ancestors and its lands. During the Antiquity, it was visible in southern Europe and other similar locations. But, in the transition to Middle Ages, approximately, the change of Earth axial inclination hided it until, at least, some thousands of years.

The first time the Southern Cross was saw again by an European was in 1500, during the Discovery of Brazil, by Portuguese astronomer João Faras. Since then, navigators adopted the Crux in the same way the land natives was using it since immemorial times: as a reference mark to Southern Pole (my post about Antarctic flags shows one flag refering to this fact). And it's as a symbol of geographic position that the Southern Cross is used in flags, etc. See a small gallery with some of these flags:

[Click on image to zoom]

The Southern Cross is frequently seen in flags of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa, and it's featured in many of Australia and New Zealand proposals to new flags.

I'm a great fan of Southern Cross, but I must to tell a bad note: the Southern Cross is tattooed, in Australia, with a connotation of  nationalism that sometimes comes near xenophobia. However, I think until many Australia recognizes the Southern Cross as the incredible symbol it is.

If you want to give your opinion about the post or the Southern Cross use in flags, feel free to comment. Thank you!