Czech Republic

Czech Republic
Adopted	March 30, 1920 (Czechoslovakia) January 1, 1993 (Czech Republic)
Designed by	Jaroslav Kursa
Proportions	2:3

The flag of the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia is an equal horizontal bicolour of white and red, with a blue pile half as long as the flag.

Symbolism

The current Czech flag is a modified version of the flag of Bohemia.

The colours do not have an explicitly mentioned symbolism; however, white and red are taken from the coat of arms of Bohemia. Though the Czech Republic is a largely Slavic nation, coincidence of its colours with the only of the pan-Slavic movement can't be considered the only reason why these colours were chosen. Usually, the colours are said to symbolise the blood (red), sky (white) and freedom (blue).

During the Czechoslovakian period, the three colours were interpreted as symbolizing Slovakia, Moravia, and the Czech lands; while currently the blue triangle laid upon the flag of Bohemia is sometimes said to be representing Moravia.

History

Originally, the flag of Bohemia was a bicolour of white and red. The current flag appeared in 1920 as the flag of Czechoslovakia, when the blue triangle was added. The modification was necessary to make the flag different from the flag of Poland, and because the flag of Bohemia did not represent Slovaks.

During German occupation period (1939-1945) the flag was abolished in favour of the flag of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

The 1990 Constitution of Czechoslovakia set up the Czech Lands and Slovak lands as two equal nations, each of them to have its own arms, seal, flag and anthem, and these were laid down in laws of 1990. The Czech Republic adopted a greater and lesser coat of arms and the flag of a bicolour of white over red on 13 March 1990 (the same as the flag of Bohemia). Upon dissolution of Czechoslovakia the agreement was made by two countries not to adopt the previous state's emblems, but the Czech Republic passed a law adopting the flag of the former Czechoslovakia as the flag of the Czech Republic on 17 December 1992 (in legal force since 1 January 1993).

External link

• Czech Vexillological Pages