Fun With Flags: Round 1 - Group С

[mae]

Please vote for the best flags; you may choose up to six flags. The top six will be moving on to the next round. This is NOT a vote for which country is "better". We are strictly voting based on the aesthetics and the design of each flag, not taking into account any geopolitical issues. Below each flag you'll find a link to the Wikipedia article about that flag, if you're curious to find out more about its history and symbolism.


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg/500px-Flag_of_Bangladesh.svg.png

Bangladesh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Bangladesh)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Flag_of_Cape_Verde.svg/500px-Flag_of_Cape_Verde.svg.png

Cape Verde (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cape_Verde)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/500px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png

Kuwait (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Kuwait)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/500px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png

United Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Flag_of_Nepal.svg/350px-Flag_of_Nepal.svg.png

Nepal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nepal)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Morocco.svg/500px-Flag_of_Morocco.svg.png

Morocco (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Morocco)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/500px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png

Brazil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Brazil)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Flag_of_Guinea.svg/500px-Flag_of_Guinea.svg.png

Guinea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Guinea)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.svg/500px-Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines.svg.png

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Saint_Vincent_and_the_Grenadines)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Flag_of_Djibouti.svg/500px-Flag_of_Djibouti.svg.png

Djibouti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Djibouti)

[mae]

Going with Cape Verde, United Kingdom, Nepal, Morocco, Brazil, and Djibouti. The UK is obvious, such an iconic flag and a great design. Nepal's is of course the only non-rectangular flag and it looks very nice. I'm a pretty big fan of Morocco's flag, and out of all these my least favorite has to be Kuwait's, mainly due to its weird 3D effect.

[mae]

I'm surprised the UK flag is getting about half the votes only so far.

[stroppygoblin]

I'm surprised the UK flag is getting about half the votes only so far.

In an effort to drum up support for my countries flag, here are some interesting facts around it's design.

Although often incorrectly referred to as the "Union Jack" It is actually called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.

Technically (although now accepted through years of media getting it wrong) it can only be called the "Union Jack" if it is flying on a ship or boat.

The flag was originally formed (for use at sea) in 1606 by combining the flags of England and Scotland in a single flag. The Red Cross of St George was overlayed on top of the White Cross of St Andrew. Interestingly a white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry. (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each other!). It wasn't until 1707, when the Act of Union, joined England and Scotland together, creating a single kingdom with a single Parliament called 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' allowing the flag to be used ashore as well as afloat.

On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was represented. The cross of St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since.

The combining of the Scottish and Irish crosses was subject to some Heraldic placement laws, which causes the flag to be asymmetrical. As Scotland joined the Union nearly two hundred years before Ireland, St Andrew's Cross was placed uppermost in the top quarter nearest the flagstaff, this being the most honourable position according to heraldry, while the Irish Cross was given the second most honourable position, the top quarter of the fly. This means the flag has a very definite orientation, and should always be flown correctly. Anyone who lives in the UK will be aware of constant complaints and "letters to the editor" when a local government office or organisation that should know better is shown on the media and has mistakenly flown the flag 'back to front'!

To me (and I appreciate some bias here) It is one of the most interesting flags in the World.

[mae]

That's a good summary. It's a really intricate and interesting design. I'm sure, even without bias, it should go far. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see it make it to the Finals.

[mae]

Bangladesh and Djibouti are tied for sixth. Hoping for some votes here to push Djibouti ahead a bit.

[mae]

The poll has closed.

The following five flags are moving on to Round 2:


Nepal (83.33%)
United Kingdom (58.33%)
Brazil (58.33%)
Cape Verde (33.33%)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (33.33%)


The following two flags will face-off in a tiebreaker for the last spot to move on:


Bangladesh (25.00%)
Djibouti (25.00%)


And the following three flags are eliminated:


Kuwait (16.67%)
Morocco (16.67%)
Guinea (8.33%)