The Symbols on The Croatian Flag

Croatia’s national flag bears numerous resemblances to other countries in the region. Croatia is one of the five Slavic countries, with a flag that has three equal-sized red, white, and blue horizontal stripes. Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Russia also have flags with a similar pattern. 

The Croatian coat of arms, one of Europe’s most distinctive kinds, is displayed in the flag’s centre. The symbols on the Croatian Flag include five smaller shields on top of the main shield that reflect Croatia’s five historical regions. The main shield’s chequerboard pattern is almost as well-known as the country itself. The red and white squares that distinguish the flag and provoke so much passion (both positive and negative) throughout the region are known unofficially in the Croatian language as the ‘Sahovnica’ (meaning “chessboard”).

Origins

Croatia adopted the tricolour pattern in 1848, as the Habsburg Empire’s minority nationalities entered a period of cultural and national consolidation. The Sahovnica, on the other hand, dates back to 1495, when it got officially affiliated with Croatia for the first time. 

However, the Croatian flag’s symbol has been used informally since the tenth century.  Following World War I, the chequerboard was used on the first flag of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which later became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.

National Flag of Croatia

The Croatian flag was officially adopted in December 1990, before Croatia declared independence in June the following year, even though it had been in use since July 1990. The Croatian flag has had the colours red, white, and blue since 1848. 

In the 19th century, the Croatian flag featured a coat of arms in the centre, but it was different from the one used today. An earlier version of the same featured the shields of Croatia, Dalmatia, and Slavonia.

Croatia’s National Coat of Arms

Five smaller shields are arranged above a shield to make a crown. The smaller shields represent the five historical areas of Croatia: Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia (left to right). 

The coat of arms initially came into existence during World War II. The red and white chequerboard, on the other hand, was adopted as a symbol in 1495 by the Kingdom of Croatia. The current coat of arms and the national flag started being used from December 21, 1990.

Which Animal Is on the Croatian Flag?

There are three different animals on the Croatian Flag–three leopards on Dalmatia’s crest, a goat on Istria’s, and a marten on Slavonia’s crest. The Croatian name for marten is ‘Kuna’.

Chequers in Red and White

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Croatian flag’s red and white chequers became an international sensation. Croatia’s red-and-white chequered national team shirt has been praised even before that, dating back to 1998 and the national team’s bronze medal performance in France. On the other hand, Croatian fans won the hearts and minds of the entire globe when their heroes made it to the final in Moscow in 2018.

With 25 red and white squares forming the basis of the shield, the chequers are an important feature of the flag. The upper left must be red by law, a difficult subject for most Croatians and a throwback to the Ustasha regime.

Conclusion

The Croatian flag is thus of rich cultural and historical importance to the nation’s citizens. The red, blue, and white stripes along with the chequerboard pattern are significant. To fully understand the history of Croatia, it is necessary to identify and understand the symbols on the Croatian Flag.