Flag of Samoa
The current flag of Samoa was officially launched on 24 February 1949.
Description
The colors are interpreted as follows:
- Red stands for courage
- White symbolizes purity
- Blue stands for freedom
The constellation of the Southern Cross points to the interconnectedness of Samoa to other countries in the region, such as Australia and New Zealand, which also lead the constellation in their flags.
History
The independent kingdom in the 19th century led Western Samoa before the colonial rule flags with red and white colors. A source reports similar to today flag of Turkey for the period 1858-1873 of a red flag with a white crescent and five-pointed star. However, since no Islamic influence at this time is known on the islands, it is presumed that he comes here from the Polynesian symbolism.
1900 Western Samoa became a German colony under the flag of the German Empire under the name of German Samoa. The draft own colonial flag of 1914 with three palms as a symbol of Samoa was never implemented due to the outbreak of the First World War.
New Zealand occupied the German colony in 1914 and took over the administration of the islands. On July 30, 1922, the islands received a Blue Ensign for the use of land and a Red Ensign for use at sea. As a symbol of Samoa were again the three palm trees.
In preparation for the independence of Western Samoa in 1948 received a new flag, which was designed by the traditional rulers Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa Mea'ole Tanumafili II. In contrast to today's flag had it only four stars for the Southern Cross, according to the New Zealand flag. On February 24, 1949 Another star modeled on the Australian flag has been added.
? Design for colonial flag German Samoa in 1914
? Flag of New Zealand during the occupation 1914-1922
? Blue Ensign Western Samoa ( 1922-1948 )
? Red Ensign Western Samoa ( 1922-1948 )
? Western Samoa ( 1948-1949 )
Similarities
The Flag of Samoa is very similar to the flag of the Republic of China ( Taiwan) and by 2010 with the flag of Myanmar, without that there are cultural or historical reasons.
Flag of Myanmar to 2010