Vexillological symbol explained

Vexillological symbols are used by vexillologists to indicate certain characteristics of flags, such as where they are used, who uses them, and what they look like. The symbols were created by vexillologist Whitney Smith and then adopted by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) in the early 1970s.[1] Vexillologist Ċ½eljko Heimer added the symbols for normal and historical in the early 1990s.[2]

Status and design symbols

Vexillological symbols describe information on a flag's recognition status and design.

Usage symbols

The usage symbols are based on a grid of two rows representing use on land and use on water, and three columns representing private use, public use, and military use. Each circle in the grid indicates the flag has one or more of the following six basic usages:

PrivatePublicMilitary
LandCivil flagFlown by private citizens on landState flagFlown by the government on landWar flag Flown by the military on land
WaterCivil ensignFlown by private vesselsState ensignFlown by government vesselsNaval ensignFlown by military vessels
A single design may be associated with no usages or multiple usages. Heimer suggested an additional row for air ensigns, but it has not been adopted by FIAV. The air ensign row refers to flags displayed on aircraft, including when on the ground, and air installations. The air ensign row is placed above the remaining two rows.
List of symbols! Symbol! Meaning! Symbol! Meaning
Civil flagNational flag
State flagNational ensign
War flagState and war flag, war ensign
Civil ensignState flag, civil and war ensign
State ensignCivil and state flags and ensigns
War ensignState and war flags and ensigns
Civil and state flagNational flag, civil ensign
State and war flagNational flag, state ensign
Civil and state ensignNational flag, civil and state ensign
State and war ensignNational flag, state and war ensign
Civil flag and ensignState and war flag, national ensign
State flag and ensignCivil and state flag, national ensign
War flag and ensignNational flag and ensign
Civil and war ensignCivil flag, war ensign
Civil flag, state ensignCivil flag, state and war ensign
Civil flag, civil and war ensignCivil flag, civil and state ensign
Civil flag, national ensignCivil and war flag
Civil and war flag, war ensignCivil and war flag, state ensign
Civil and war flag, state and war ensignCivil and war flag, civil ensign
Civil and war flags and ensignsCivil and war flag, civil and state ensign
Civil and war flag, national ensignCivil and state flag, war ensign
Civil and state flag, state ensignCivil and state flag, state and war ensign
Civil and state flag, civil ensignCivil and state flag, civil and war ensign
State flag, war ensignState flag, state and war ensign
State flag, civil ensignState flag, state and civil ensign
State flag, national ensignState flag and ensign, war flag
State and war flag, civil ensignState and war flag, civil and war ensign
State and war flag, civil and state ensignWar flag, state ensign
War flag, state and war ensignWar flag, civil ensign
War flag, civil and war ensignWar flag, civil and state ensign
War flag, national ensignNational flag, war ensign
National flag, civil and war ensignOther

See also

References

  1. Web site: FIAV Flag Information Symbols . 2022-10-20 . CRW Flags .
  2. Web site: The FAME: Symbols and Abbreviations . 2022-10-21 . zeljko-heimer-fame.from.hr.