Proper Flag Flying & Usage

Proper flag flying

Flags from recognized countries are regarded as having equal status. To not give priority to any country, when flags are flown at the United Nations (UN) headquarters they arrange the flagpoles in a circle thereby not having priority or prominence. A country’s national flag will always take prominence over other flags, including civil or state flags. If two flags are positioned on a podium, the national flag should be on the speaker's right side (the audience's left). When three flags are displayed, the national flags is placed at the center. If there are five or more waving flags, there should be a national flag at each end.

Proper Usage of National Flags

Many countries do not have laws on displaying and flying flags. For these countries, there are many are international guidelines that express the proper ways to fly and use flags. Generally military institutions hold to strict protocols on the use of the national flag.

Flags should not be used in inappropriate ways. Flags should not be placed or dragged on the ground nor should they fall on the floor. In many countries it is illegal to burn a flag. It is acceptable to use a flag to cover a commemorative plaque prior to unveiling, but the flag should not touch the ground when it is pulled away. Additionally, it may be acceptable to trim a speaker's table with the national flag, but it should not be used as a tablecloth or seat cover.

The US and the star spangled banner has precise regulations for the display and handling of the Stars and Stripes, specifying how the US flag should be folded, and even the typical lifespan of the flag and how it should be disposed. Besides the US, there are other countries that have legislated the use of their flags include Egypt flag, Bahrain flag, Romania flag, Monaco flag and Finland flag. On the other hand you have countries like the UK that do not have written laws regarding the Union Jack flag.

There are some European countries that hold to the custom of draping the flags of foreign countries at a 90 degree angle instead of flying the flags. While this custom may make the flags look aesthetically designed, they run the possibility of misrepresenting the respective flags. Many flags are designed with horizontal bands whether, bicolor and tricolor elements which can inadvertently represent a different country when the flags are displayed at a different angle. If the Poland flag is hung at a 90 degree angle, that flag may be mistaken for an Indonesia flag or Monaco flag. When the Dutch flag is draped vertically, it can be misinterpreted for a Yugoslavia flag. There have been instances that have taken place that have embarrassed the hosting and visiting countries before so, some countries prohibit hanging foreign flags at different angles for the purposes of aesthetics.