Have you ever looked at a country’s flag and wondered how it got to be? How did it get its colors and symbols? What is the history behind the flag?
In a world with as many countries as we have, we can’t help but think about how these countries came to be. And a country’s flag often tells the story behind the nation and when it gained its independence.
While there are so many beautiful flags, I have always pondered which nations have flags that are orange, green, and white. Most of us know right away that Ireland comes to mind but are there any others?
There are four national flags with the colors orange, green, and white. Ireland, India, Ivory Coast, and Niger all have flags with these colors.
Read on to learn more about each nation’s flag and the history behind them. Discover why and when each country gained its independence.
Ivory Coast
Seated on the southern coast of West Africa, Ivory Coast is officially known as the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The country borders Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Gulf of Guinea.
Several languages are spoken there, but the official language is French. The country is a large producer or cocoa and coffee and is one of the world’s largest exporters of cocoa bean
History of the Flag of Ivory Coast
After a 1958 vote of the French Fifth Republic, colonies were given the choice to become independent from France. Ivory Coast chose to become self-governing and was proclaimed a republic in December of that year.
Under Président Houphouët-Boigny, the country founded its national flag in December 1959. The colors of the flag, orange, white and green, represented the conservative government.
The positioning of the stripes stood for the people of the country working towards the development of the nation. The stripes were a resemblance of the words unity, discipline, and labor.
The orange in the flag of Ivory Coast symbolizes national growth, the white stands for the unity of all citizens peacefully, and the green stands for a hopeful future.
Ireland
In northwest Europe lies the country of Ireland, which is divided between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
Gaelic Ireland has been around since the 1rst century, and following the Norman invasion in the 12th century, England claimed sovereignty.
After the war of independence in the 1920s, the rest of the island split from Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom. Today a lot of Ireland’s culture is similar to that of Great Britain, including the love of several sports.
History of the Irish Flag
Before becoming the national symbol, the flag of Ireland was intended to represent the much hoped-for union between Protestants and Roman Catholics. But not until 1916, at the Easter Rising, did the tricolor signify the nation’s flag.
The Irish Republic adopted the flag during the war of independence and was given constitutional status in 1937. Today the flag is flown by both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Today, the green of the flag stands for the Roman Catholics, the orange for the Protestants, and the white signifies a long-lasting unity between the two religions. In its entirety, the Irish flag represents the inclusion of all Irish people, regardless of religious affiliation.
India
India, located in South Asia, has the second largest population in the world. India shares its borders with China, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
It is believed that the first humans settled in India over 65,000 years ago. The country fell under British rule in 1858 but became an independent commonwealth in 1947.
India today is a center for information technology, and its forests still cover over 21% of its land.
History of the Flag of India
India’s flag consists of 3 horizontal colors, white, India saffron, and India green. A 24-spoke wheel, called the Ashoka Chakra, is centered in the middle of the flag. It officially became the flag of India in August 1947.
By law, the flag of India must be made of khadi, a hand-spun cloth that was favored by Mahatma Gandhi. Until 2002, the flag could only be flown by private citizens on national holidays. But the Supreme Court of India changed this law, allowing the people of India to fly their flag at will.
The color scheme of the Indian flag represents sacrifice and courage, truth and peace, and chivalry and faith. The Ashoka Chakra represents the wheels of law.
Niger
Niger is in West Africa, where it is bordered by Chad, Libya, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Algeria. Niger is a very undeveloped country that faces development challenges due to it being landlocked, as well as desert terrain and overpopulation.
People first settled in what is Niger around 60,000 years ago. In the early 19th century, the French began to colonize Niger, and in 1926, France began to trade along the Niger River with other French territories.
Development was thwarted because of problems with the French military and guerilla groups. In July of 1960, Niger became independent from France, and Prime Minister Diori was elected president of Niger.
History of the Flag of Niger
The flag of Niger became its national symbol in 1959, a year before its independence from France. The national colors of white, orange, and green sit in horizontal panels with an orange roundel in the center.
The orange in the flag represents the parts of Niger that are covered by the Sahara desert and the efforts of the citizens who strive to overcome this environment.
The white in the flag of Niger stands for innocence and purity and the responsibility of its people to fulfill their duties. The green stripe in the flag is a symbol of the country’s agriculture.
Because the flag of Niger is so close in looks to Ireland and India, the flag of Niger adopted the tropical sun to be the center of the flag.
