3 flags which are not rectangular in shape: What do they symbolise?
If you have wondered why most flags in the world are rectangular, you are not alone. This is a question that piques many a curious mind. Well, the answer is simpler than you would have expected. Rectangle, it turns out, is the most convenient shape. But why? This is a shape that is able to catch the wind properly, it is believed. Let’s dive a little deeper into this for you to understand the concept better. The rectangular shape of a flag ensures that even a slight breeze would move it, in turn making it easily visible to the rest of the world. Also, according to several flag designers, the shape is cost-effective in terms of production.
Be it a world power like Russia or the tiny sovereign states at the heart of the Pacific (Tonga or Tuvalu), 195 countries of the world have rectangular flags. But wait, there are 3 more, which have non-rectangular flags: Nepal, Switzerland and Vatican City. Let’s find out why they took a different path.
Nepal
A glance at the flag of Asia's mountainous country, Nepal, will tell you that it’s not rectangular in shape like its other counterparts in other nations. The country has a five-sided flag with two overlapping triangles, not equal in size. Officially adopted on 16th December 1962, Nepal’s flag comes with a crimson red background and blue borders. While the upper one has a white moon at its centre, the lower triangle has a white sun with twelve points. The triangles represent the country’s rich Himalayan heritage. As for the colour, the red represents the tenacity and bravery of the Nepalese as well as the colour of Nepal’s national flower rhododendron. Blue, on the other hand, stands for peace and harmony. But what do the celestial bodies signify? While the sun and the moon symbolise sovereignty and permanence, moon implies purity of spirit.
Switzerland
If you have been thinking so far that the flag of Switzerland is rectangular in shape, you are mistaken. The shape is, actually square, consisting of a white cross on a red background. Officially adopted on December 1889, the flag’s unconventional shape was not a random choice. Instead, it was inspired from the square-shaped military arm coats prevalent during those times. The origin of the flag can be traced back to the Battle of Laupen fought in in the mid-14th century between Bern, a region in Switzerland and Freiburg in Germany. During the war, the Swiss soldiers had sewn a white cross on their chain of mails in order to distinguish themselves from the opponents. Eventually, the cross started to appear on weapons, banners and almost became a national emblem. As a result, in 1841, when the Swiss Confederation adopted an official flag design, the white cross (also known as Swiss Cross) on the red background, it didn’t come as a surprise.
Vatican City
In February 1929, the state of Vatican City was officially established. Following this, in the month of June the same year, the new sovereign nation decided to adopt the country’s official flag. This is when this square-shaped flag with two vertical bands was conceived. While the golden yellow band on the hoist side represents spiritual power, the white one was on the flag side symbolises earthy power. But wait, there’s more to the Vatican City flag than these two bands. Yes, we are talking about the unmistakable image of the Papal Coat of Arms on the white band. What does it look like?
The Papal Coat of Arms comes with gold and silver keys intersecting with each other and pointing upwards. Interestingly, they are connected with a red cord. The keys on the Papal Coat of Arms represent the keys that Jesus gave to Saint Peter, his disciple and the first one to become a Pope. The keys, it is believed, denote the Kingdom of Heaven.
Just above the keys, you will find a Papal Tiara donned by Popes from the 8th Century up until Pope Paul VI in 1963. In fact, from 1143 to 1963 the it was placed on the Pope’s head during the Papal Coronation. Quick fact: The tiara that you see on the white band of the Vatican flag was worn by Pope Pius XI who was present when the Lateran Treaty was signed in 1929.