On the abstract side, you’ve got most of the world’s flags. Take, for example, all those tricolors out there. You know, the three stripes of different colors, vertical or horizontal, first adopted by France and then repeated dozens, if not hundreds, of times elsewhere (Italy, Belgium, Mexico, Chad ….).
Representative flags actually show something. You’ve got the maple leaf on Canada’s flag, the rising sun on Japan’s, the sun on Uruguay’s, the crescent moon and star on Turkey’s …
These babies? I’m not totally sure what they are.
#7 Vanuatu
Why, it’s a pig’s tusk and some “crossed leaves of the namele fern,” of course. Now, the latter represents peace, while the former represents wealth and prosperity. Here, I’ll let Flags of the World explain that last bit:
The boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity because (1) pigs are wealth (2) in the latter stages of getting the tusk to grow in a spiral the pig has to be hand fed, and you need status and wealth to have both the pig feeder and the food which are necessary.
Obvious. (And remember, pigs are wealth.)
Another contest winner, with the designer being one Kalontas Mahlon, who works at Vila Handprints. Once again, that’s from FOTW – so you know it’s actually true. No fake news there.
#6 Antarctica
Bet you didn’t know Antarctica even had a flag.
Now, if you’re a real geography buff like me, you probably already know what’s in the middle of this one. That little blob with a tail? That’s actually Antarctica itself.
But what does Antarctica seem to be caught in? A radar screen? A spider web? Turns out those are the lines of longitude and latitude. In other words, this is basically just a little map.
What it reminds me of, though, is the flag of SPECTRE, or Smersh, or some other evil entity out to control the world. Hmm, maybe that’s what those guys are getting up to way down there with all those penguins.
#5 St Lucia
Isn’t this the corporate logo of Weyerhaeuser, or Georgia Pacific, or Caterpillar, or somebody?
So, what is it actually? According to FOTW, it represents the Pitons, “which are recognized by the people of St. Lucia and by the world as the symbol of this island.” Sure. There’s also some stuff about the yellow representing sunshine, and the black and white representing the “twin cultures” of this rather posh place.
This baby was designed by local artist Dunstan St. Omer. The original flag, which had a darker blue and a much less skinny symbol, actually looked a lot better… but still very much like it should be flying over some factory or corporate headquarters.
#4 St Vincent & The Grenadines
There’s gotta be a rock band out there with this name, right? Well, at least we got the St.Vincent part right, no?
Believe or not, that thing in the middle represents the letter V, for Vincent. I always assumed that there might be, say, 3 islands, or at least 3 main ones. No such luck. The diamonds themselves represent the idea that the country is considered the “gem of the Antilles.” Sure, right.
There are also a couple of things a little off about this flag. Did you notice, for example, how the V is definitely a little below center? That’s to represent the nation’s “location in the Antilles.” Instead, it looks more like they didn’t quite nail it, centering-wise. Did you also notice how the yellow stripe is bigger than the others? That’s to represent, oh, heck, I don’t know … Just make something up, okay?
#3 Tokelau
So, what is that thing? Front part of a snowmobile? Hand-vac?
Turns out it’s a boat. In fact, it’s a “stylized Polynesian canoe.” But of course.
Tokelau? It’s just a handful of islands in the Pacific, basically run by New Zealand.
And that what’s behind the stars. Yup, it’s the old Southern Cross, featured on the flags of New Zealand, Australia, and a whole bunch of others.
#2 Christmas Island
Hey, it’s the Southern Cross! And that thing over on the right? I think that might be a bird. In the middle? Man, I don’t know. Is it a slug? A snail outside its shell? A poodle missing its hind legs?
Actually, it’s Christmas Island! Christmas Island??? That’s an island off of the island of Bali and officially part of Australia.
This baby was the result of a contest, won by one Tony Couch, of Sydney. He won $100 Australian for his efforts. I think he should give it back.
#1 St Eustacius
I swear this is the alligator character from Pearls Before Swine. Am I right?
Am I right?
St. Eustacius? It’s an island in the Caribbean, and is owned by the Netherlands.
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