# Do the stripes on these flags have a specific meaning? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221 "2024-08-04T03:23:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/1 "2024-08-04T03:23:35Z")
The American flag has thirteen alternating red and white vertical stripes. I have heard these represent the original thirteen states. There are several other flags which resemble the American flag in a general way. The Liberian flag has eleven vertical stripes. The Chilean flag has two. The Cuban flag has five (blue and white rather than red and white). The Puerto Rican flag has five. The Texan flag has two. Does the number of stripes in any of these flags have a symbolic meaning similar to what the number of American stripes has? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/2 "2024-08-04T03:26:45Z")
For Texas, Wikipedia says this: > [@](#): > > The idea of the single red stripe and single white stripe actually dates back to the short-lived [Republic of Fredonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Fredonia), a small state near modern [Nacogdoches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacogdoches,_Texas) which seceded from Mexico in 1826 before being forcibly re-integrated. The new state was formed through an alliance between local [Anglo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_American) settlers and [Native American](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas) tribes and the Fredonian flag used a white and red stripe to symbolize the two ethnic/racial groups from which the state was formed.[[11]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Texas#cite_note-12) Though this rebellion ultimately failed it served as an inspiration to the later [Texas Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Revolution). > **[Flag of Texas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Texas#Colors_and_symbolism)** > > The Lone Star Flag\[a\] is the official flag of the U.S. state of Texas. The flag, flown at homes and businesses statewide, is highly popular among Texans and is treated with a great degree of reverence and esteem within Texas. Along with the flag of Hawaii, it is one of two state flags to have previously served as a national flag of an independent country. In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, territorial, and Canadian p ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/3 "2024-08-04T03:28:15Z")
Puerto Rico’s stripes are not about any states or districts: [https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/flag-puerto-rico](https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/flag-puerto-rico) > The Flag of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is rectangular in shape and consists of five alternating horizontal stripes, three red and two white, with an isosceles triangle with a five-pointed white star in the center based on the hoist side. The three red stripes represent the blood that nourishes the three branches of government, the two white stripes represent individual liberty and the rights of man which maintain the balance among the three branches of government. The white star represents the Commonwealth, the blue triangle represents the sky and the ocean, and the three sides of the triangle represent the three branches of the Commonwealth’s republican form of government. The flag’s design is based on the Cuban flag with the red and blue colors inverted. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/4 "2024-08-04T03:42:23Z")
From poking around on Wikipedia: - [Liberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia): eleven stripes represent the eleven representatives who signed the country’s declaration of independence. - [Chile:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Chile) doesn’t seem to be a particular reason for “two stripes;” the symbolism is around what the colors are for (white for the Andes, red for blood shed during the fight for independence, while the blue square is for the sky and the Pacific Ocean). Arguably, it doesn’t have stripes, but is a “bicolor” flag, with a blue square in one corner. - [Cuba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cuba): the three blue stripes represent the three departments into which Cuba had been divided; the white stripes represent the purity of the patriot cause. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/5 "2024-08-04T03:43:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The Liberian flag has eleven vertical stripes. It has eleven _horizontal_ stripes, not vertical. [Wikipedia has this to say about the flag of Liberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Liberia). > The eleven stripes symbolize the signatories of the [Liberian Declaration of Independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_Declaration_of_Independence) and the red and white symbolize courage and moral excellence. The white star represents the first independent republic in [Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa), above the blue square representing the African continent. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/6 "2024-08-04T04:52:29Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > It has eleven _horizontal_ stripes, not vertical. I had a long day. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/7 "2024-08-04T05:37:09Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The idea of the single red stripe and single white stripe actually dates back to the short-lived [Republic of Fredonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Fredonia), Hail, hail, Fredonia! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/8 "2024-08-04T07:41:44Z")
The two blue stripes on the Israeli flag represent both the blue strips often found on the Jewish prayer shawl (_tallit_), and the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2024, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/9 "2024-08-04T07:46:12Z")
Poland, Monaco and Indonesia all have simple red and white flags, not identical but in principle similar. Austria has red/white/red. And then there are all the countries with vertical bands of plain colours- Ireland (symbolically uniting the communities identified with green and orange), France, Italy, Nigeria, Peru … AFAIK these are all metaphorical/symbolic references to abstract ideas like freedom and peace. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/10 "2024-08-04T08:24:05Z")
[Malaysia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Malaysia) also has a similar-looking flag with fourteen stripes, representing its thirteen constituent states plus federal territories. Note that the number is even, which means the top and bottom stripes are of opposite colours. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/11 "2024-08-04T15:00:39Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > The Liberian flag has eleven vertical stripes. > > It has eleven _horizontal_ stripes, not vertical. And > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The American flag has thirteen alternating red and white vertical stripes. Seems you both had a long day. 😉 At least the OP was consistent. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/12 "2024-08-04T21:23:18Z")
Following links in the Fredonia article, I would up at the page for the [Republic of the Rio Grande](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_the_Rio_Grande) which tried to pull a Texas but only lasted a chunk of year. It’s flag has 3 broad horizontal stripes: white, red and black. Now, the related flags with just white and red stripes had the colors represent those of the Europeans and the Native Americans. Mexico had abolished slavery but maybe the black was for free folks. On the side is a blue field with 3 stars, one for each of the rebelling states. In that era there was also the much longer lived [Republic of Yucatan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Yucat%C3%A1n). 3 stripes: red, white, red with a green field of stars. Lots of flags along similar lines, it appears. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/13 "2024-08-04T22:07:04Z")
The [flag of Uraguay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Uruguay) has nine stripes, 5 white and 4 blue, representing the 9 original departments (divisions analagous to states or provinces). Originally it was 10 white stripes and 9 blue stripes (officially, 9 blue stripes on a white background), but that was hard to discern at a distance so they reduced it to the current design after a couple of years. A number of South American and Central American flags are blue and white, mostly inspired by the [flag of Argentina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Argentina). Interestingly, the Argentinian colors were those of the royal Order of Charles III, and may have been chosen as a political ploy. Liberals could claim they were rebelling against Spain, conservatives could claim they were rebelling against the Bonapartes. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/14 "2024-08-04T23:00:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Seems you both had a long day. Both? ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/15 "2024-08-04T23:21:42Z")
But was it longer in the horizontal or vertical direction? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/16 "2024-08-04T23:42:19Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Both? Criticizing his mistake about the Uraguayan flag while ignoring his mistake about the much more familiar US flag is the same sort of inattention to detail the OP was guilty of. If he’s gonna blame a long day for his error, I thought I’d blame your omission on the same thing. Sorry if that came off as me being a jerk, not a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/17 "2024-08-05T01:43:20Z")
You’re having a long day, too? I focused on the Liberian flag, as he mentioned that. I did miss the one about the American flag. And no worries. That is hilarious I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/18 "2024-08-05T02:05:02Z")
Rufus T. Firefly was a great statesman! ---
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/19 "2024-08-05T02:16:52Z")
The flag had 15 stripes for about 20 years after Vermont and Kentucky joined the Union. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, there was no extra stripe. When the 3rd flag act passed in 1818, the number of stripes reverted to 13 representing the original 13 states. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/20 "2024-08-05T09:15:21Z")
The Union Jack dates from 1 January 1801 with the Act of Union (of Scotland and England) in 1800 and was originally made up of the English red St George’s Cross, the Scottish white diagonal [saltire] on a blue background. After the Act of Union 1800, the red saltire was added. The white parts are there to separate the red from the blue in accordance with heraldic rules. After Irish independence in 1922, there was a proposal to remove it from the flag, but it was retained partly on cost grounds and partly to represent Northern Ireland. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221.md?page=2)