Swiss Flag Is Not Actually Square

The Swiss national flag is arguably one of the most well-known flags globally. Despite this, it appears that most people are unaware of the essentials. So, to assist you, we’ve compiled a list of interesting facts that are sure to impress your new Swiss acquaintances. The Swiss flag understands how difficult it is to live as a square in a rectangular world. When the European Commission flew a rectangle Swiss flag instead of the official square one a few years ago, it caused quite a stir. They quickly corrected their error when the embarrassing occurrence was discovered, averting an international incident.

The Swiss Flag Is Not Actually Square

While the Swiss flag is generally thought to be square, some variations are there. Switzerland, for example, adopts a rectangular flag for the Olympic games. This is due to regulations by the International Olympic Committee that all national flags must be the same size. The Swiss civil flag is likewise rectangular when waved by Switzerland’s sea-going merchant ships and marine yachts. Ships sailing across the country’s lakes and rivers, on the other hand, normally wave the more easily recognised square flag.

Flags of participating states are placed at the UN headquarters’ gates. If you look closely, you’ll find that Switzerland’s flag is the only one that isn’t rectangular. While the square shape has been around for a long time, only the size of the white cross has been determined. The Swiss flag must be square, according to paragraph 3 of the Coat of Arms Protection Act of 2017.

Interesting Facts About the Swiss Flag

• The official Swiss flag under Napoleon looked a lot like the flag of Lithuania today. The Swiss flag was green, red, and yellow during Napoleon Bonaparte’s occupation in the nineteenth century. The colours on today’s Lithuanian flag are arranged differently. This far-fetched comparison demonstrates that the initial Swiss flag did not resemble the white-cross-on-a-red-square we are familiar with today.
• The famous white cross has been around since 1339. The warriors of Bern and its allies had a brilliant idea in preparation for the Battle of Laupen in June 1339. All soldiers of the Old Swiss Confederacy later accepted this idea.
• The Swiss flag’s red colour remains a mystery, and some historians believe that the colour red represents Christ’s blood. To illustrate, author Diccon Bewes has observed more red shoes on Swiss streets than everywhere else.
• Pantone 485C is the exact hue of red for printed products.

It wouldn’t be Switzerland unless every detail were meticulously established. On the colour wheel, the shade of red corresponds to Pantone 485C, and that’s the same colour as McDonald’s corporate colours or the Lego emblem.

• Flag tossing is one of Switzerland’s oldest customs. The International Olympic Committee ruled that all national flags must have the same dimensions and 99 distinct twists and tosses with their right and left hands. Fahnenschwingen is a popular attraction at folk festivals, such as the Jodlerfest Lachen. It is also a separate discipline. Flag tossers fight against one another in three-minute battles by demonstrating their most difficult whirls.

What Is Unique About the Swiss Flag?

Switzerland’s eye-catching flag is ultimately derived from the Holy Roman Empire. Three original confederated cantons that formed the core of the modern Swiss Confederation added a narrow white cross to the upper hoist corner of its red flag in 1240. During the Battle of Laupen in 1339, the Confederates of Switzerland used that symbol more broadly. The International Olympics committee ruling that all national flags must have the same dimensions was a popular debate around the Swiss flag.

During the nineteenth century, cantons in Switzerland were closely linked. Following the adoption of the 1848 constitution, a square red flag with a white cross was officially recognised for the army. On land, the National Flag was established legally on December 12, 1889. Finally, on April 9, 1941, the Swiss civil ensign (national flag at sea) was adopted due to the need to identify Swiss flags on the Rhine River and elsewhere during World War II.

Conclusion

There are various explanations for why the Swiss flag is red. One description claims it references Christ’s blood, while another claims it has a reference to the crimson in the Bern canton flag. By the way, the hoisted version of the Swiss flag has no legally authorised colour. However, since 2007, Pantone 485C has been the official colour of the Swiss flag for printed government logos. This is the Pantone Color Matching System, which is used worldwide to assure colour consistency. The white cross on the red background officially became Switzerland’s national flag on December 12 1889.