# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**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 5, 2024, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/21 "2024-08-05T11:32:59Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You’re having a long day, too? Now _that’s_ funny! 😁 What’s a few thousand miles between friends? Besides, I spelled “Uruguayan” wrong. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/22 "2024-08-05T14:56:22Z")
You didn’t mention it, but the Hawaiian flag has eight horizontal stripes, with the Union Jack in the canton. The eight stripes symbolize the eight major islands ( Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and Niʻihau) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/23 "2024-08-05T21:41:33Z")
It was such a long day that people noticed my misspelling of “Uruguay”, but apparently ascribed it to other posters. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/24 "2024-08-06T01:36:26Z")
I don’t know if there’s a connection to the flags mentioned by the OP, but the red stripes on the Senyera, the Catalan flag, represent blood on a golden shield. Depending on the origin legend, it could be the shield of Wilfred the Hairy, Count of Barcelona, and the stripes are drawn in Wilfred’s blood by the fingers of King Charles the Bald. Or it could be Ramon Berenguer painting the bars with his own blood on a yellow shield. [Senyera Origin Legends](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senyera#Origin_legends) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/25 "2024-08-06T14:25:15Z")
There is a similar legend about the [Austrian flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Austria): > According to legend, the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria as a consequence of his fighting during the [Siege of Acre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Acre_(1189%E2%80%931191)). After a fierce battle, his white [surcoat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surcoat) was completely drenched in blood. When he removed his belt, the cloth beneath remained unstained, revealing the combination of red-white-red. So taken was he by this singular sight that he adopted the colours and scheme as his banner.[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Austria#cite_note-2) The incident was documented as early as 1260.[_[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)_] > > In fact, the [war flag of the Holy Roman Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Holy_Roman_Empire) during the Crusades was a silver cross on a red field quite similar to the later Austrian arms. This sign was used by the Austrian capital [Vienna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna) from the late 13th century onwards. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/26 "2024-08-06T17:42:45Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Depending on the origin legend, it could be the shield of Wilfred the Hairy, Count of Barcelona, and the stripes are drawn in Wilfred’s blood by the fingers of King Charles the Bald sorry, but I just imagined first day in school … - Hi, I am James Smith - Hi I am Wilfred the Hairy - Hi I am Charles the Bald ok, kids - now everybody please sit down and open your books… * * * ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/27 "2024-08-06T19:04:26Z")
“Books? We’re supposed to have books?” -Æthelred the Unready ---
**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 7, 2024, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/28 "2024-08-07T11:03:14Z")
“Sorry - I was the one who was supposed to tell Æthelred to bring books, but I forgot.” -Edward the Confessor. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/29 "2024-08-07T11:14:14Z")
What do you mean by “_you are not allowed in class anymore???_” Diogenes the Cynic ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/30 "2024-08-07T11:27:36Z")
. _ **" …Coming, he should have seen it - the pupil Diogenes the Cynic"** _ Skald the Rhymer ---
**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 7, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/31 "2024-08-07T11:52:45Z")
“Wake up, people! School is just a scam designed to perpetuate the capitalist system!” -Erik the Red. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/32 "2024-08-07T12:48:19Z")
“Knock, knock!” -William the Conqueror ---
**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 7, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221/33 "2024-08-07T13:25:40Z")
Oh noooo!! It’s Mr. Bill!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-stripes-on-these-flags-have-a-specific-meaning/1005221.md?page=1)