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.

Illustration of a green flag with three white stars and a moon shape on a white background with blue text

When Egypt gained independence in 1922 the Kingdom of Egypt adopted a new national flag featuring a white crescent with three stars. The three stars represent the territories that made up the kingdom: Egypt, Nubia, and Sudan. The three stars arranged within the crescent also represent the Muslims, Christians, and Jews living in the country. The green background the crescent and stars overlay represent the agriculture of the nation.  

Illustration of a flag with blue and white stripes and a red triangle with a white star on it on a white background

The Cuban flag was created by Narciso López, an anti-Spanish Cuban exile, and the poet Miguel Teurbe Tolón in the fight for Cuban independence and sovereignty. The three blue stripes symbolize the three districts Cuba was divided into in the 1800s and the two white stripes symbolize the purity of Cuban patriot ideals. The red triangle symbolizes strength, constancy, and equality while the white star symbolizes Cuban independence and freedom.

Illustration of a green flag with a yellow diamond over blue text on a white background

The current national flag of Brazil was adopted in 1992 and features 27 stars in the flag’s blue circle. These stars represent the 26 federal states and 1 federal district. The formation of the stars is based on the sky over Rio de Janeiro in 1889 when Brazil gained independence. The green of the flag represents the forests and fields of Brazil while the yellow rhombus represents mineral wealth and gold.

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

The national flag of Austria was adopted in 1230 and is one of the oldest national flags in the world. According to legend, Duke Leopold V of Austria was involved in a battle during the Crusades where his white tunic became soaked in blood. When he removed his belt a white band was left thus inspiring the red, white, and red stripes on the Austria flag. Today the white stripe represents peace and the red stripes represent the honest of the Austrian people.  

Illustration of a blue flag with white stars and red stripes over black text on a white background

A competition to design Australia’s national flag was held in 1901 and of the 32,823 entries, 5 contestants with similar entries won and split the prize money. In 1954 after a few modifications, the flag pictured became the official Australian national flag. The flag features the British Union Jack in the left corner, the Commonwealth star underneath the British Union Jack, and the Southern Cross constellation on the right half of the flag. The British Union Jack represents Australia’s link with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth star represents the six states and territories of Australia. The Southern Cross represents Australia’s position in the southern hemisphere and each star is named after the first five letters of the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon.  

Illustration of a blue and white striped flag over blue text on a white background

The Argentina flag pictured has existed since 1816 until the addition of a sun with 32 alternating rays. The sun bearing flag was originally restricted to military use only until its adoption as the national flag in 1818. There are two versions as to what the Argentina flag represents. The first version states the blue of the flag represents the Rio de la Plata and the white stripe represents silver metal due to early conquerors belief that large amounts of silver were hidden in Argentina’s rivers. The second version states the colors represent the Bourbon Dynasty of Spain.