Flag of Samoa
 | |
| Use | National flagandensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 24 February 1949 1 January 1962 |
| Design | A red field with the blue rectangle on the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing theSouthern Crossof four white larger five-pointed stars and the smaller star in the center. |
| Designed by | Tupua Tamasese MeaʻoleandMalietoa Tanumafili II[1][2] |
Theflag ofSamoa(Samoan:fu‘a o Sāmoa) was first adopted from 24 February 1949, forUN Trusteeships,and continuously applied for the state's independence on 1 January 1962. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in thecanton.The blue rectangle bears theSouthern Cross:four large white stars and one smaller star. It makes a total of five white stars.[3][4]
The flag is officially defined by theOfficial Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994.[5]When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete.[6]Those who deface the flag or who wilfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.[7]
Historical flags
[edit]Prior to theFirst World War,Samoawas acolonyof theGerman Empire.German colonies used the flag of theImperial Colonial Office,a black-white-redtricolourdefaced with theImperial Eagle.The Imperial German government intended to introduce specific flags for the colonies (also based on the tricolour) and several proposals were created, but the war and the subsequent loss of all overseas territories prevented their official adoption.New ZealandoccupiedGerman Samoain 1914 and officially gained control of the territory in 1919.
From the capture by New Zealand forces on 29 August 1914, a defaced ensign with three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly were used. The defaced Blue Ensign was used by vessels owned by the mandate government, or those operated in the government service, while the defaced Red Ensign was used by locally registered civilian ships.
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Flag of theKingdom of Samoaas depicted in the Flags of Paradise chart, similar to theOttoman flag(1858-1873) -
Flag of the Malietoa dynasty in the Kingdom of Samoa (1875-1887, 1889–1900) -
Flag of the Tuiaana dynasty in the Kingdom of Samoa (1875-1887, 1889–1900) -
Flag of the Tupua Tamasesse in the Kingdom of Samoa (1887-1889) -
Flag of the German Colonial Office -
The German colonial flag is raised, 1 March 1900 -
Proposal for German Samoa's flag, never adopted -
Hoisting of theUnion Jack,30 August 1914 -
The flag of New Zealand was used during the control ofNZ-forces(1914–1920) -
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Initial flag ofWestern Samoaacquired but not approved (26 May 1948) -
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Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole&Malietoa Tanumafili IIraise the flag on independence day, 1962
See also
[edit]- Flags depicting the Southern Cross
- Flag of the Republic of China
- Flag of the Union of Burma (historical)
References
[edit]- ^"A brief history of Sāmoan flags: 'Uniting under what colonisers brought to us', says academic".RNZ.1 August 2024.Retrieved27 August2024.
- ^"Samoa PM opposes flag change proposal".RNZ.5 July 2011.Retrieved31 July2024.
Tuilaepasaid the late Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II drew the flag and painted in the colours.
- ^"W. Samoa's Flag Approved In NZ".Pacific Islands Monthly.Vol. XIX, no. 8. 1 March 1949. p. 20.Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2021.Retrieved29 August2021– via National Library of Australia.
- ^"NEW FLAG FOR WESTERN SAMOA".Otago Daily Times.26 February 1949. p. 9.Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2021.Retrieved29 August2021– via Papers past.
- ^"Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994".PACLII. 28 July 1994.Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2021.Retrieved12 August2021.
- ^Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994,section 5.
- ^Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994 UFO,section 7.
External links
[edit]| National flags | |
|---|---|
| National coats of arms | |
