Flag of Fiji

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Flag of Fiji
Flag of Fiji.svg
Vexillological symbol : National flag on land?
Aspect ratio: 1: 2
Officially accepted: October 10, 1970

The flag of Fiji was officially introduced on October 10, 1970.

description

Blue Ensign

The flag of the island state bears the British Union Jack due to its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and its colonial history in the Obereck . This takes up exactly a quarter of the flag area. The model for the flag design was the Blue Ensign , which had previously been used as a colonial flag . In contrast to the Blue Ensign, the blue is significantly lighter and should represent the sky and the sea. The light blue was also deliberately chosen to better distinguish it from the flags of Australia and New Zealand . At the flying end is Fiji's coat of arms .

Description of the coat of arms

Coat of arms of Fiji

In the head of the shield (upper quarter) on a red background a striding, golden, crowned lion (see coat of arms of England ) holding a cocoa pod in both hands .

Underneath on a silver background is a red George's cross (see flag of England ) that divides the shield body (lower three-quarters) into four .

  1. In the first field, top left , three naturally colored sugar cane plants .
  2. In the second field, top right, a natural-colored palm that is supposed to represent a coconut palm .
  3. In the third field, at the bottom left , there is a natural-colored dove of peace .
  4. The last field, bottom right, in shows a natural-colored bunch of bananas .

A natural-colored outrigger boat with sail, a so-called Camakau, is used as an ornament above the shield .

To the left and right of the shield there are two local warriors who serve as shield holders . They are equipped with a traditional loincloth, the person on the right with a spear , the left with a Totokia - lobe . You are on a banner with the Fiji national motto of the Fiji Islands:

"Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui."
(Fear God and honor the queen.)

meaning

Blue symbolizes the sea . In 1874 Fiji submitted to the sovereignty of England, only 100 years later did the state regain independence. The coat of arms depicts a dove of peace and the most important crops of the country ( bananas , sugar cane , coconut palm ).

history

In British times, various colonial flags were in use, all of which had the shape of a Blue Ensign with a coat of arms or emblem in the flight section. The last version of this flag was in use between 1924 and 1970.

  • 1: 2 ? Colonial flag, 1924 to 1970 Historic flag

In the New Year's 2013 address by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama , the plan to change the national flag was discussed. You may want to have a local motif. In February 2015 this was made more concrete by presenting a national competition for the design of the new flag. From 2000 entries, 23 designs were selected by the national flag committee. The decision has been postponed several times and should ultimately be announced on September 7, 2017, Constitution Day since 2013 . However, on August 17, 2016, Bainimarama announced that there would be no referendum for a new flag for the foreseeable future , due to the great support of the population, especially after winning the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in 7-a-side rugby . In addition, the available resources should currently be better used, such as for repairing the damage caused by Cyclone Winston .

More flags of Fiji

Fiji uses the British flag system. ( Red Ensign , Blue Ensign and White Ensign )

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Mighty Fijian Canoes (Takia, Camakau, Drua). Angelfire.com, accessed January 21, 2017 .
  2. ↑ Union Jack may disappear from Fiji flag. In: The Australian . News Corp Australia, January 2, 2013, accessed March 14, 2017 .
  3. ^ Fiji to remove Union Jack from flag. In: RTÉ.ie. Raidió Teilifís Éireann , February 3, 2015, accessed on March 14, 2017 .
  4. ↑ More flag delays in Fiji. In: radionz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand , December 24, 2015, accessed March 14, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Fiji PM says flag won't be changed. In: radionz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand , August 18, 2016, accessed March 14, 2017 .

literature

  • Karl-Heinz Hesmer: Flags and coats of arms of the world. History and symbolism of the flags and coats of arms of all states . Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, Gütersloh 1992, ISBN 3-570-01082-1 .

Web links

Commons : Flags of Fiji  - Collection of images, videos and audio files