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Italian Flag

by Aakash Singha

The flag of Italy was officially adopted on January 1, 1948. The national flag of Italy is a tricolor flag that features three equally sized vertical stripes of green, white, and red.


Italy Flag

 

Blank Italy Flag

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Flag of Italy

The flag of Italy features three vertical and equal bands, making it a tricolor flag. The hoist side has a green band; white forms the center band; and the outer stripe is red. The red and white parts of the flag were borrowed from the official colors of the Milanese flag, and green was added to represent the Civic Guards of Milan. When hung vertically, the flag is to be rotated 90 degrees. The green color in the flag is said to represent hope and joy, the white symbolizes peace and honesty, and the red stands for strength and valour. Another interpretation of the Italian flag’s colors is that the red shows the violent struggle to become a unified and independent nation, the green symbolizes the landscapes of Italy, while the white represents the snow-capped Alps.

History of the Italian Flag:

The tricolor of the flag of Italy is believed to have been based on the French flag. Napoleon’s troops brought the flag to Italy in 1797, and on January 7, 1797, the XIV parliament of the Cispadana Republic officially adopted the flag. With the integration of the Cispadana Republic and the Transpadane Republic, the tricolor became representative of the larger state. Though the Italian Republic was constituted in 1802 and adopted a new flag, the tricolor survived as the official flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia and later in 1861 as the flag of the Kingdom of Italy, helping unify the nation. However, on these flags, the Savoy crown and shield were placed at the center of the tricolor. At the end of World War II, the Italian Republic officially adopted the plain tricolor flag on June 19, 1946. Since November 1947, the Naval Jack has been added to the city, and the naval ensigns differentiate it from Mexico’s flag.

Italian Flag Specifications:

The aspect ratio of the Italian flag is 2:3. In 2003, the opposition leaders of Italy accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of introducing changes to the colors of the flag. After much debate, the colors of the flag were defined and standardized in reference to the Pantone Matching System (PMS). The green that’s used is “Fern Green” (Number 17-6153 TC), the white is “Bright White” (Number 11-0601 TC), and the red is “Flame Scarlet” (Number 18-1662 TC). These standards apply to flags produced on polyester bunting fabric.

Resemblance:

The flag of Italy resembles the flag of Mexico. The flag of Italy uses paler shades of red and green than those on the Mexican flag, which are deeper. The major difference between the two flags is their aspect ratios. While the Italian flag has a ratio of 2:3, the flag of Mexico has an aspect ratio of 4:7, making a longer rectangle. The coats of arms on the two naval flags are different to ensure easy recognition. Apart from the flag of Mexico, the Italian flag bears a close resemblance to the flag of Ireland. The flag of Ireland is also a tricolor featuring green, white, and a deep orange. The aspect ratio of the Irish flag is 1:2.

Italy Flag Day:

Italy celebrates Flag Day each year on January 7.

National symbol(s): a white, five-pointed star (Stella d’Italia)
National colors: red, white, green
National anthem:
Name: “Il Canto degli Italiani” (The Song of the Italians)
Lyrics/Music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

Fact about the Italy flag

Country Italy
Adopted January 1, 1948
Revision NA
Design and Colors A vertical tricolor of green, white and red
Size Ratio 2:3

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