The British flag can be flown upside down? Are there any more important factoids like this I’ve not been told about?
Yep - take a look at this and note that the diagonal red cross is not centered in the white space. This image correctly has the thicker white part at the top left. If the top left has a thinner white part, the flag is upside down.
Two more factoids: flying the British flag upside down is a distress signal (not a great signal if many people do not know that there is such a thing as upside down) and the reason it is asymmetric is that the cross of St. Andrew is higher to reflect the fact that it was added to the flag before the cross of St. Patrick. So if you care about flag rank stuff, then the Union Jack/Flag permanently disses Northern Ireland.
Hey, I got a 403 forbidden with that link. I bet it’s because of those damn Elbonians!
First Old Glory and now the Union Jack
WHERE WILL THIS END?
It works for me. Maybe you are forbidden because you are not British. We keep details of our flag secret then we can act all superior and turn our noses up at you when you get it wrong.
…well, for one thing, that would mean he’s clinically insane (or likes mud)… possibly making him someone you really don’t want to live next to.
Nasty people, Elbonians; I personally say weasels are too good for them.
It permanently disses Ireland, not just Northern Ireland.
If he is flying a large Elbonian flag over a small American flag I’m going to assume that he is trying to piss in my cornflakes so yeah, I’m going to at least ask him what’s up with that?
Sorry that’s just the way I roll.
That’s an Elbonian delicacy, you should be grateful.
I don’t see how that’s disrespectful or why the hell I should care. But then, the only thing I know about flag etiquette is “Don’t put them on the floor.”
Let’s be fair, here. If your father was better with the morgue’s paperwork, he wouldn’t have misplaced so many body parts.
And completely ignores Wales.
Nah; there’s a tiny dragon right in the middle of the Cross of St. George. You just can’t see it. You know, because it’s also red.
Hmm, thinking about that, I wonder if the story of George and the dragon is a metaphor for England conquering Wales?
Applauds politely
I’m in the UK and we try to teach our Cub Scouts basic flag etiquette.
The main points are:
- don’t let the flag touch the ground*
- on campsites ensure the flag is lowered before sunset
To be honest though the concept of Respect For The Flag is so alien to most of the lads’ everyday experiences that it’s about as relevant and meaningful as teaching the correct way to address an Emissary from the Court of Austro-Hungary.
*Although on Remembrance Sunday flags are lowered to the ground, so this just confuses things!
Given how many calendars I’ve seen in the US where the flag was, in fact, worn as a tiny bikini (back when bikinis had seats, this included the seat), and how many articles of clothing figure the flag prominently over there, I would find it extremely funny if an American got offended about a non-American doing it.
OTOH, apparently quite a few Chinese euro-store owners have been surprised that underwear with the Spanish flag isn’t popular here. Would I be offended if a foreigner bought those? No. I’d be surprised if a Spaniard did, but whatever. We only wear the flag to show support for the Spanish national team in sports, and then it tends to be caps or scarves, or the jersey of said team. Cups with the flag are for the tourist trade, whereas in the US and UK I’ve seen locals using them.
That’d be awesome! Someone should make flag loin cloths!
Sorry, I forgot another occasion where one may wear the flag here, but it’s local flags: berets, bandannas and sashes in Sanfermines red’n’whites are for Navarra, and some people wear bandannas or berets in green which is for Pamplona (I don’t think I’ve seen anybody with a full set of green’n’whites, although IIRC some of the councilors wear green sashes with their fancy-day uniforms). There is a peña whose bandanna is blue, I haven’t seen any other colors, nor have I seen the flags of other towns used for bandannas (but the bandannas often have a coat of arms printed or embroidered, and this coat of arms may be of the region, the province, Euskal Herria, or any town).
Again, it’s a very limited and specific usage. I wouldn’t be offended by an outsider wearing these clothes, y’all are welcome to it, but if he wasn’t doing it properly I might correct him on it (seriously, if you’re going to wear a beret put it on straight, 'tain’t so difficult!).
Maybe that’s why the Elbonian flag needs to be bigger? Its less absorbent?