Flag of Laos

The flag of Laos was officially launched on 2 December 1975.

Description and significance

The strips have a ratio of 1:2:1. Red stands for the blood that was shed in the struggle for independence. Blue symbolizes the prosperity and white disk represents a bright future of the country, or in another reading, for the moon shining over the Mekong. It is located right in the center of the flag and has a diameter of 80 % of the height of the blue stripe.

History

In 1893 the territory of the three kingdoms of Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Champasak, about the Siam had the supremacy, to a French protectorate. Therefore, the French tricolor was added in the naval jack of the flag of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang. The elephants indicate the ancient kingdom of Lan Xang, whose name means " million elephants ". 1949 Laos became independent within the French Union. 1952, the tricolor was removed. In 1954 France renounced all claims. In 1975, the Kingdom was overthrown and Laos communist. With this went hand in hand, the change to today's national flag.

Laos under French Protectorate, 1893-1952

? Kingdom of Laos, 1952-1975

? Royal Flag, 1952-1975