# Do nations other than the US have specific protocols for folding their flags? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848 "2016-09-25T18:17:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/1 "2016-09-25T18:17:08Z")
In the US the nation’s flag is traditionally folded into a triangular shape via a specific procedure, familiar to the military and Boy Scouts. Are there any other countries that have a specific folding procedure? Do any individual US states have such a procedure for folding their state flags? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/2 "2016-09-25T18:28:18Z")
This wiki page doesn’t go into a huge amount of detail, but it does list some things: > **[Flag protocol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_protocol)** > > A flag protocol (or flag code) is a set of rules and regulations for the display of flags within a country, including national, subnational, and foreign flags. Generally, flag protocols call for the national flag to be the most prominent flag (i.e, in the position of honor), flown highest and to its own right (the viewer's left) and for the flag to never touch the ground. Enforcement of flag protocols vary by nation, with some countries using flag protocols as recommendations and guidelines, whil... This site has more detail. I checked a few countries and some list protocols and some don’t. [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/3 "2016-09-25T19:29:27Z")
The Spanish Armed Forces regulations include details on how to fold flags, but they only apply to whichever branch that specific regulation applies to. The rest of the country just folds them like any other flat piece of cloth. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/4 "2016-09-25T21:27:05Z")
It seems that the US has a great deal more ‘reverence’ for its flag than most other contries. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/5 "2016-09-25T21:28:16Z")
[Here](http://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Flag)’s a page from Wikihow (so take the content with a huge grain of salt) on how to fold the American, Canadian, British and Australian flags. The instructions for the American flag give the familiar triangular shape, while the Canadian flag appears to end in a rectangle. The British and Australian flags end up in a rolled bundle, sort of like a burrito. And I remember seeing a page ([del]that I can’t find now[/del]) about how to roll up a Canadian flag so that you could attach the roll to the flagpole and then have it unfurl after it’s raised. Edited to add, this [PDF document](http://www.flagshop.com/pdf/Breaking_A_Flag.pdf) explains how to “break the flag.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/6 "2016-09-26T00:38:55Z")
I think the state of Ohio has an official procedure for folding our flag, but that’s just because nobody would be able to figure it out without instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/7 "2016-09-26T01:50:30Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > It seems that the US has a great deal more ‘reverence’ for its flag than most other contries. I did read somewhere a theory that says because the US doesn’t have a Royal Family (and the President is just another politician - ie hated by 50% of the population by definition), they use the Flag and the Anthem as their Sacred Historic Symbols that don’t actually mean anything, but create a historical narrative, and create a focus for patriotic/nationalistic celebration. I’m paraphrasing from when I read it (many years ago) - I apologise for not describing it clearly - but I can see what the writer intended. Noit 100% sure I agree, but I can see where he’s coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/8 "2016-09-26T06:21:37Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > It seems that the US has a great deal more ‘reverence’ for its flag than most other contries. Depends on how you look at it. On one hand you have a lot more protocols on how to deal with it, and on the other you consider it normal to wear it in your asscrack, and protected speech to burn it so long as the person doing the burning is himself American. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/9 "2016-09-26T07:16:59Z")
That way of rolling a flag for breaking it is what we were taught in the Scouts here in Oz. Breaking of a flag, rather than raising it unfurled seems to be the critical difference. It allows the saluting of the flag to be performed in a well choreographed and quick ceremony. The rule set of handling of a flag was reasonably complete, although it tends to be ignored, or perhaps superseded in many places. For instance the flag was not to be flown outside after dusk. Quite a few flags in Oz are seen at night now, but I would assume flags that are illuminated get a pass on this rule. Never letting the flag touch the ground is another rule. Thus lowering and folding the flag was typically a two person job. Another rule that I have never been round to witness the enforcement of, is that if a flag is to be flown at half mast, it must be raised to the full height and then lowered, and not simply raised to half way. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/10 "2016-09-26T10:15:08Z")
I’ve never been particularly aware of any great rules in the UK. I learnt about breaking a flag (or even worked it out for myself?) with the school rowing club flag at a boathouse open day (and that was mainly because there was a good breeze blowing, and I thought it would look a bit more dramatic). As for not letting it touch the ground, IIRC, it’s not uncommon when dipping hand-held flags at Remembrance Day parades. I’ve just googled around a bit, and apparently dipping to the ground as a salute is known as “vailing” and is indeed not uncommon in a number of countries. It also appears that some MPs have taken it upon themselves to issue a protocol guide: [http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flying\_Flags\_in\_the\_United\_Kingdom.pdf](http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flying_Flags_in_the_United_Kingdom.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/11 "2016-09-26T12:41:44Z")
Gosh I remember how seriously it was taught at summer camp and how seriously I took it for years, and will do, in a way, for years. I even remember and understood one part, as as a boy, the outrage Abbie Hoffman wore a flag shirt. It is similar (unsurprisingly, less stringent) than the Jewish customs and outright strictures on taking out, displaying, and putting away the scroll of the Torah, including (as an adherent, I feel mandated to write “God forbid”) letting it touch the ground. About the US flag, it still is an issue for me, although I only now am directly involved as an observer and society member: eg, calling my housing complex management and giving them hell for allowing the maintenance staff to get away with half-assed half-mast flags flying in the absence of symbolic need. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/12 "2016-09-26T12:43:25Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/13 "2016-09-26T12:45:15Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/14 "2016-09-26T12:46:32Z")
South Africa has all the[usual rules](http://www.southafrica.info/about/history/flagguide.htm#.V-kY4HV96JE)about not defacing, which way up, where it goes relative to other flags etc, but nothing about folding, AFAICT. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/15 "2016-09-26T13:07:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Francis Vaughan** : > The rule set of handling of a flag was reasonably complete, although it tends to be ignored, or perhaps superseded in many places. For instance the flag was not to be flown outside after dusk. Quite a few flags in Oz are seen at night now, but I would assume flags that are illuminated get a pass on this rule. Never letting the flag touch the ground is another rule. Thus lowering and folding the flag was typically a two person job. > > Another rule that I have never been round to witness the enforcement of, is that if a flag is to be flown at half mast, it must be raised to the full height and then lowered, and not simply raised to half way. Yup, these rules apply to the American flag, too. Flying at night with illumination is allowed, but the Flag Code explicitly says that if possible, taking it down every evening is still preferred. Which of course doesn’t stop the people one would think would take the Flag Code most seriously from flying it 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/16 "2016-09-26T13:36:14Z")
Most people in the UK don’t even know that flying the union flag upside down is even a thing, let alone recognise when it is. I once almost got beaten up by a far-right skinhead for pointing out his tattoo was upside down - not sure if it was me calling him disrespectful to the Queen or my sniggering when doing so, but he sure got mad! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/17 "2016-09-26T13:47:49Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > I did read somewhere a theory that says because the US doesn’t have a Royal Family (and the President is just another politician - ie hated by 50% of the population by definition), they use the Flag and the Anthem as their Sacred Historic Symbols that don’t actually mean anything, but create a historical narrative, and create a focus for patriotic/nationalistic celebration. That doesn’t really make sense, though. _Most_ countries don’t have royal families (even if you include the various Commonwealth states for whom the Queen is still nominal head of state) and even those non-monarchies that have separate heads of state and government usually elect both. Besides, from prior threads I understand that the Danes are the only people in the world who are as into their flag as us, and _they_ have a monarchy too. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/18 "2016-09-26T13:58:12Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > It seems that the US has a great deal more ‘reverence’ for its flag than most other contries. > > > [@Wallaby](#): > > > > I did read somewhere a theory that says because the US doesn’t have a Royal Family (and the President is just another politician - ie hated by 50% of the population by definition), they use the Flag and the Anthem as their Sacred Historic Symbols that don’t actually mean anything, but create a historical narrative, and create a focus for patriotic/nationalistic celebration. > > > > I’m paraphrasing from when I read it (many years ago) - I apologise for not describing it clearly - but I can see what the writer intended. Noit 100% sure I agree, but I can see where he’s coming from. The argument I heard is that most of the Old World countries have centuries of history and tradition as a people. The English have been the English for over a thousand years, as have the French, the Germans and other peoples. But the US is only a couple of hundred years old and doesn’t have this history and tradition as a people, so we ascribe greater meaning to symbols like the flag. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/19 "2016-09-26T14:11:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think the state of Ohio has an official procedure for folding our flag, but that’s just because nobody would be able to figure it out without instructions. Apparently the instructions for properly folding the [Ohio Burgee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ohio) were [codified into a law in 2005](http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp5.014v1). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848/20 "2016-09-26T14:19:07Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The argument I heard is that most of the Old World countries have centuries of history and tradition as a people. The English have been the English for over a thousand years, as have the French, the Germans and other peoples. > > But the US is only a couple of hundred years old and doesn’t have this history and tradition as a people, so we ascribe greater meaning to symbols like the flag. Or perhaps the US is just old enough to have inherited the feeling that it _ought_ to sacralise some symbol of national unity, albeit with no overt religious connections, whereas both older countries with a different locus of national identity (and heaven knows, that’s a fraught enough question in many) or a more recent establishment have either a more world-weary or pragmatic approach? Compare and contrast, as the old exam questions used to say, the habit of officially voting for State Bird or Flower, or whatever, which is something we don’t do in the UK (apart from those odd MPs who do things like creating the flag guidelines I linked to above), nor AFAIK most other European countries. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nations-other-than-the-us-have-specific-protocols-for-folding-their-flags/766848.md?page=2)