Doppelgangers – Red, White & Green

There’s a lotta countries out there.  Given that, I’m not too surprised that there were some girls who wore the exact same dress to the party, if you know what I mean.


Hungary

Hungary’s flag dates back to 1848, when the Hungarians rose up against the Hapsburgs. The color scheme is an ancient one, and the French tricolore provided inspiration for the stripes.

There is an alternate (and the official flag between 1918 and 1946) that includes a coat of arms:

Time to go back, I say.


Iran

Another traditional design, this was formerly shown with a lion and sun:

The current symbol is called a tawhid, and somehow or other stands for the classic phrase “There is no God Except Allah.” The white fimbriations repeat “God is great” over and over again. In other words, I’m afraid the whole thing is a little on the churchy side.


Tajikistan

It’s not official, but I’m seeing a little Iran in this baby. Indeed, the Tajiks speak a form of Farsi (the official language of Iran) and originally trace themselves back to the former Persia.

That things that looks like a bottle opener in the middle? Here, let me explain.


Somaliland

Never heard of Somaliland? Well, you’re not alone. It’s part of the wreck of the former Somalia, is not officially recognized, but pretty much functions as a real country. My son, who wrote his senior honors thesis on Somaliland, actually has a copy of this baby.


Italy

Forgive me if you’ve heard this before, but this is another variation on the French tricolore. The Italian version actually dates all the way back to 1797, just 3 years after the French version became official. The specific colors can be traced back to the city of Milan. 


Mexico

Three vertical stripes? Red, white, and blue with one or two substitutions? You know the story, right?

This time, the colors date back to the Army of the Three Guarantees. This was the army that Agustin de Iturbide, the country’s first ruler, led into battle. Here’s what they actually flew:

I like it. Probably too late to go back, huh?


Alternative

Most of these are way too well established to offer much prospect for change. Here’s something that worked for the Czech Republic and the Philippines though – with green substituted for blue:

Feel free to switch the colors around, make things bigger or smaller, and throw some coats of arms or stars or bottle openers on there.

And then there’s this:

Any takers? Didn't think so.


More links:

• > Doppelgangers - orange, white & green
• < Doppelgangers - red, white & blue (stripes)
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