Flag of the British Virgin Islands

The flag of the British Virgin Islands is on a blue background in the leech / on the mast above the Union Jack, the flag of the British mother country. It is thus a Blue Ensign. On the flying end the arms of the British Virgin Islands is shown. It consists of a green shield, on twelve golden lamps with red flames and a female figure, the holy Ursula, patroness of the British Virgin Islands. She is dressed in white, wearing sandals and holds one of the lamps in their hands. The eleven remaining lamps refer to the eleven or eleven thousand companions (Elf maidens ) of St. Ursula, who suffered according to tradition, together with this martyred.

Directly below the shield is the motto: Vigilate ( from the Latin as: Be vigilant ). This motto (Mt 25.1 -13a ) points along with the burning oil lamps in the arms probably to the parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins in Matthew's Gospel ( Mt 25, 1-13). The wise virgins have timely supplied with oil, preparing just in time for the arrival of the bridegroom (Christ). This she finds on his arrival before waking and takes it ( the kingdom of heaven ) with to the marriage. The St. Ursula and her companions ( all of whom were virgins ) so be prepared as inwardly at the entrance to heaven ( ie martyrdom ) are shown.

Union Jack of the Governor

Coat of arms flag

History

When Christopher Columbus discovered the islands in 1493, he named them Las Virgenes in honor of St. Ursula and her companions. The eleven lamps that surround the figure of St. Ursula, are available for each 1000 of the 11,000 virgins who were tortured, according to legend, together with the holy Ursula to death. The figure and the lamps are surrounded by a wreath of two green branches.

The flag in its present form was adopted on 15 November 1960. There were the elements which have been used as a coat of arms, set against the backdrop of the United Kingdom.