# Flag Origami **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208 "2020-09-22T05:16:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 22, 2020, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/1 "2020-09-22T05:16:30Z")
Which countries have a specific method for folding their national flag and what are those methods? ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/2 "2020-09-22T05:34:20Z")
Official guidance on the correct form for folding the Irish flag is set out in section 9 of [this publication of the Irish government](https://assets.gov.ie/2949/151118153516-096a94ba6955435cae965414f7667104.pdf) [note: .pdf document]. But it’s not mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/3 "2020-09-22T05:57:56Z")
I found that there is a formal method to the ceremonial folding of the Canadian flag: > **[Ceremonial Folding of the National Flag of Canada - Canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/fold-canada-flag.html)** > > The official process to fold the Canadian flag. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/4 "2020-09-22T08:33:30Z")
Australia’s flag instructions include useful diagrams - [https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/australian-flags-booklet-part-two](https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/australian-flags-booklet-part-two) on pp. 22-23. ---
**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 22, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/5 "2020-09-22T21:40:32Z")
I assume you already know, but for the sake of completeness, there’s an official way to fold the US flag. It ends up in a right triangle, with only the blue-and-stars part showing. There’s also an official way to fold the Ohio flag, which is relevant because it’s an unusual shape. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/6 "2020-09-22T21:49:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I assume you already know, but for the sake of completeness, there’s an official way to fold the US flag. It ends up in a right triangle, with only the blue-and-stars part showing. > > There’s also an official way to fold the Ohio flag, which is relevant because it’s an unusual shape. Which leads one to wonder how you fold a Nepalese flag. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/7 "2020-09-22T21:58:01Z")
The technique for the blue triangle with stars on it is pretty easy: > **[American Flag-Folding Procedures | The American Legion](https://www.legion.org/flag/folding)** > > The traditional method of folding the flag is as follows: (A) Straighten out the flag to full length and fold lengthwise once. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/8 "2020-09-24T13:47:15Z")
Rewatching _Parks & Recreation_ I notice the Indiana state flag on the wall is folded so that it is a right triangle with the torch showing. Do any US states (Ohio already mentioned) have any official procedures for folding their flag? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-origami/921208/9 "2020-09-24T14:03:51Z")
California should have done better. Apparently, you fold it into a triangle that leaves just the “CALI” showing, thereby advertising that California disobeys one of the rules of good flag design (“No writing on a a flag”). Should have figured out a way to fold it with the bear showing. Of course, a lot of state flags are just a misused state seal on a solid background. Not much clever you can do with that.