Illustration of a blue flag with a yellow cross on it over blue text on a white background

The Swedish national flag is based off the flag of Denmark and features a yellow cross that represents Sweden’s link to other Scandinavian countries. The colors of the flag also hold meaning. Yellow represents generosity and blue represents truth, loyalty, and justice. The exact age of the Swedish flag is unknown, but the oldest record shows a blue cloth with a yellow cross from the 16^th century.

Illustration of a flag with a red, yellow and blue stripe with blue text underneath on a white background

The basic design of the Spanish flag was proposed by King Charles III in 1785. King Charles III wanted to further differentiate the Spanish war ensign from other European countries such as France, Tuscany and Sicily. The current flag consists of two horizontal red stripes on the top and bottom and a yellow stripe in the center. The coat of arms of Spain including the Royal Crown is positioned left of center on the yellow stripe. Red and yellow are traditional Spanish colors that originate from the coat of arms of the original Spanish kingdoms.

Illustration of a flag with a yellow background and red illustration in the middle with blue text underneath on a white background

The Royal Banner of Scotland also known as the lion flag is considered the unofficial national flag of Scotland. The lion rampant design was first used to represent the Scottish kingdom in 1222 by Alexander II. The flag is only allowed to be flown by the monarchy and is traditionally flown at royal residences when the monarchy is not present. However, there have not been any official objections to the public waving the lion flag at national and international events.

Illustration of a flag with a blue, yellow and red stripe and blue text underneath on a white background

The current flag of Romania was adopted in 1989 and modeled after the French flag. The colors of the flag symbolize the two principalities that united to form Romania. Red and yellow represent Walachia while red and blue represent Moldavia. The blue of the flag is also associated with freedom, yellow with justice, and red with fraternity.

Illustration of a flag with a green, white and red stripe and blue text underneath on a white background

The colors of the Mexican flag originally held different meanings than today: The green stripe represented the Mexican Independence Movement, the white stripe represented Catholic faith, and the red stripe represented the union with Europe and the Americas. Today the green stripe represents hope, the white stripe unity, and the red stripe represents blood to pay tribute to those who died in the war for independence.

This depiction, although accurate in color, is missing a key element, an eagle that is placed in the center of the flag. Without the eagle, these colors depict the flag of Italy. The eagle was officially added to the tri-colors in 1821 when Mexico gained sovereignty. Prior to the national flag being established, the honorary flag depicted the virgin of Guadalupe. The eagle was introduced in 1821 by Agustín de Iturbide, an emperor who placed a crown on the eagle as a symbol of the Mexican empire. Since that time, the flag has had 8 different iterations, all featuring the tri-color and eagle.

Illustration of a flag with red and white stripes and a blue square with a white star and blue text on a white background

Liberia was founded and established by freed American and Caribbean slaves with support from the American Colonization Society. The national flag of Liberia was adopted in 1847 and because the country was initially recognized as a United States colony, the Liberian flag is similar to the flag of the United States. The flag features 11 red and white alternating stripes representing the 11 signatories of the Liberian declaration of independence. The blue square represents the African mainland and the white star represents purity and freedom for ex-slaves.

Illustration of a flag with a red circle on it and blue text on a white background

The national flag of Japan is called Nisshōki, meaning “sun-mark flag” but more commonly called Hinomaru, meaning “sun disk.” Japan’s national flag pictures a red sun disk representing the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu against a white background representing the honesty, purity, and integrity of the people of Japan. According to legend, Amaterasu was the founder of Japan and the ancestor of the first emperor. The emperor was known as the “son of the sun” and Japan became known as the “land of the rising sun.”

Illustration of a flag with black, white and green stripes and a red shape on the left with blue text on a white background

The first Iraq national flag was adopted in 1921 and was based on the flag of the Kingdom of Hejaz. The two stars with seven points represent the 14 provinces the kingdom had at the time. The colors red, green, white, and black are traditional pan-Arab colors that also represent the Hashemite leaders of the Arab Revolt who provided the country’s first king.

Illustration of a blue and red striped flag and black text on a white background

The national flag of Haiti originally featured a blue and red vertical stripe and was an adaptation of the French national flag. The current flag features a blue and red vertical stripe with the county’s coat of arms in the center. The blue of the flag represents the Haitians population while the red represents the mulatto population who are of mixed ancestry.

Illustration of a blue and white striped flag with a white cross shape in the upper left with blue text on a white background

The national flag of Greece pictured was adopted in 1978 and is still used today. The nine alternating stripes represent the nine syllables of the Greek motto “freedom or death” used during the battle for independence in the Hellenic Revolution. The blue of the flag represents the sky and sea while white represents the clouds and purity of the people. The cross in the upper corner represents the Greek Orthodox Church which established the religion of the country.