Flag of Lebanon

Lebanon

Use	National flag and ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	December 7, 1943
Design	On a red field a white Spanish fess charged with a green cedar.

The flag of Lebanon (Arabic: علم لبنان‎) is formed of two horizontal red stripes enveloping a horizontal white stripe. The white stripe is to be two times a red one (ratio 1:2:1)—a Spanish fess. The green cedar in the middle touches each of the red stripes and its width is one third of the width of the flag.

Symbolism

It was designed to be a neutral flag, not allied to any one of Lebanon's religious groups. The red stripes symbolize the pure blood shed in the aim of liberation. The white stripe symbolizes peace, and the white snow covering Lebanon's mountains. The green cedar, (Species: Cedrus libani or Lebanon Cedar) symbolizes immortality and steadiness.

This cedar is referenced many times in the Bible: "The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon" (Psalms 92:12). There is also some reference in W. Smith's 1980 book on the colours: "The red and white colours are those associated, respectively, with the Qaysites and Yemenites, opposing clans that divided Lebanese society between 634 and 1711 AD". However, that explanation is poorly known (not to mention quite unheard of) in the Lebanese tradition.

It is a common mistake to draw the branches of the cedar and the tree trunk in brown or black which could be seen as unconstitutional. The cedar should be fully green regarding the provisions in the Constitution.

History

Ancient flags of Lebanon

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  Flag used during Phoenician era 3000 BC – 200 AD (Including the currently known as Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, Tunisia and Lebanon)^{[citation needed]}

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  Kingdom of Jerusalem Flag 1099–1291

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  Flag under the Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258

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  Tanukh Flag 200 AD – 400 AD^{[citation needed]}

Flags of clans during the Middle Ages

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  Feudal Flag of the Jumblat clan during Middle Ages

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  Feudal Flag of the Abu Kanad clan during Middle Ages

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  Feudal Flag of the Lamaite princes during Middle Ages

Flags of sultanates and emirates

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  Flag of the Maanid Emirate 1119–1697

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  Flag under the Ayyubid Dynasty pre-1250

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  Flag under the Mamluk Sultanate 1250 – 1517

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  Flag of the Chehab Emirate 1697 – 1842

Through history, Lebanon, or at least its region, had taken the flag of the people who occupied it (Mamluk, Ottoman Empire)

French Mandate of Lebanon

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  Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate 1920–1943

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  Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate 1920–1943 (Variant)

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  Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate 1920–1943 (Variant)

During the French Mandate of Lebanon, the Lebanese flag was designed by the president of the Lebanese Renaissance Movement, the late Naoum Mukarzel. It was similar to the tricolour flag of France but with a Cedar in the middle.

Lebanese Republic

The present Lebanese flag was adopted just prior to independence from France in 1943. Seeking independence, the actual flag was first drawn by member of parliament Henri Pharaon in the Chamber of deputies Saeb Salam's house in Mousaitbeh by the deputies of the Lebanese parliament. It was adopted on December 7, 1943, during a meeting in the parliament, where the article 5 in the Lebanese constitution was modified.

One theory is that since Henri Pharaon was a long-time consul in Vienna, Austria and was an avid friend and founder of the "Austro-Lebanese Association of Friendship", the colors could have been inspired by the red-white-red Flag of Austria. The Austrian flag is the second oldest in the world, dating to the 13th century when it first probably appeared after the Siege of Acre during the Third Crusade.

Variant flags of Lebanon

The following is a list of variant flags used in Lebanon

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  Design stored at WIPO

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  Flag as drawn and approved by the members of the parliament during the declaration of independence in 1943

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  Flag used in the post WWI under the Arab Administration 1918–1920

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  Flag used in Deir El Qamar, Capital of the Maanid and early Chehab emirs 1830

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  Rebels Flag during the Merdai era (Yemenites)

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  National Maanid Flag

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  Rebels' Flag during Prince Ibrahim Era

See also

• Coat of arms of Lebanon

External links

• Lebanon at Flags of the World
• Lebanese Flag Accurate, high quality, & high resolution flags of Lebanon.