Flag consecration

Consecration of the flags of the 1st Guards Regiment on foot , Berlin 1808

A flag consecration (rarely also standard consecration or flag blessing ) is the solemn handover of a flag to a body in connection with the consecration of the flag during a Catholic festival service .

history

The practice of flag consecration has been documented since the 10th century. Today's flag consecration is based on a military model, as it was common in the Prussian and Austrian military. In the early phase of the Third Reich , the SA 's swastika flags were consecrated.

The tradition of the consecration of the flag exists today especially in Catholic areas, especially in Bavaria , Austria and Tyrol . In addition to the tradition of blessing troop flags in the military, it is particularly cultivated by traditional associations , rifle associations , warrior associations and Catholic fraternities that go back to the military tradition of vigilante groups, but also by volunteer fire brigades and other associations and bodies.

procedure

Inauguration of the new city flag in Biedenkopf , 2012

Before the church act, the festive fastening (earlier nailing) of the flag cloth to the flagpole takes place. The flag is carried to the altar by "flag maidens" or "ladies of honor". Traditionally, a woman acts as a flag godmother . She usually also donates the flag ribbon .

As part of the service, the flag is ceremoniously blessed. The flag is placed on the altar during the service . During the consecration and the blessing it is lowered as a sign of solidarity with the Christian faith. After the consecration, the “flag mother” hands over the flag to a specially honored flag bearer of the corporation.

Often, on the occasion of the flag consecration, the first flag ribbons are attached , in particular a black ribbon of honor - often donated by the community - for the dead of the corporation and a flag ribbon of the flag mother and the ribbon of a friendly sponsoring association.

The flag consecration is occasionally repeated on the occasion of the restoration of historical flags.

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  The clergyman blesses the flags of I Austria. Brigade in Mattersburg in Burgenland, 1931

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  Consecration of the flag in the church of Großkötz

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  Consecration of the flag and swearing-in of the SA

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  Consecration of the flag at the Waldkirch gymnastics club , 1900

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  Invitation to the standard consecration of the Christian Workers' Tourist Association in Bolzano , 1921

Web links

Commons : Consecration of flags  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c d} Arnulf Wynen , art historian at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart , on the flag consecration