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The cross is a symbol used on flags since ancient times, a fact associated with its status as the main symbol of Christianity.
In fact, it appears on some of the oldest national flags in the world. Even today, this symbol represents the Christian heritage of the countries that display it on their flags, even when those countries now have formally non-denominational states. Today, there are more flags with crosses than flags with the crescent and star, the most widespread symbol of Islam, but the most commonly used element on flags around the world is the star, with various designs and meanings.
Below we'll look at the world's flags that include a cross, both on the flag itself and on the coat of arms used on it, and the reason they bear that symbol. The flags are shown with their official design and proportions.
AUSTRALIA
Australia, like other former British colonies, flies the Union Jack in its canton, complete with the corresponding crosses. It is a symbol of its connection to the United Kingdom.
DENMARK
The Danish flag is the oldest in Europe. It dates back to 1219 but became official in 1625. It was the first flag to feature the Scandinavian Cross, a symbol that other countries also adopted with different color combinations.
DOMINICA
Its flag was adopted in 1978. The cross on this flag may be related to its past as a British colony. Dominica had previously used an ensign with the Union Jack in the canton, but it became official in 1625. It was the first flag to feature the Scandinavian Cross, a symbol also adopted by other countries with different color combinations.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The flag of the Dominican Republic features two crosses: a white cross, extending to the edges of the flag, and a golden Latin cross on the shield. These are clearly religious symbols. In fact, the Dominican Republic's coat of arms is the only national emblem that includes an image of a Bible.
FINLAND
The flag of Finland was officially adopted in 1918 following its independence from Russia. It is one of the European flags that includes the Nordic cross.
FIJI
The Fijian flag features the British flag in its canton, with its corresponding crosses, as a symbol of its historical connection with the United Kingdom.
GEORGIA
The Georgian flag dates back to the Middle Ages, with records dating back to 1367. It is one of the oldest flags in the world. Its origins date back to the Crusades, and it was officially established by the current Republic of Georgia in 2004. It should be noted that the ancient Kingdom of Georgia was one of the first Christian states in the world, so the crosses on the Georgian flag have a clear religious significance.
GREECE
The current Greek flag was declared official in 1978. The former flag of Greece during the monarchy was the one that now appears in the canton of the flag. The soft cross on the Greek flag represents the Greek Orthodox Church, as the country is a confessionally Orthodox Christian state.
ICELAND
The flag of Iceland was adopted in 1944 after its independence from Denmark. Like Denmark, it features a Nordic cross with a design very similar to the Norwegian flag, but with the blue and red colors reversed.
LIECHTENSTEIN
The flag of Liechtenstein dates back to 1764 and was declared official by its Constitution in 1921. In 1937, the crown of the principality was added to the canton of the flag to distinguish it from the flag of Haiti. Liechtenstein's crown bears a cross at the top, a clearly religious symbol, as this principality is a Catholic state.
MALTA
Malta's national flag bears the Victoria Cross in its canton. In this case, it is not a religious symbol, but a decoration: it was awarded to the island by King George VI of England in 1942 for its resistance to German bombing.
Furthermore, Malta has a civil flag, above, which includes the Maltese Cross, as this island was for centuries the headquarters of the Order of Malta, a Catholic order of chivalry founded during the Crusades. Malta is a confessionally Catholic state, and in this case, the cross is indeed a religious symbol.
MOLDOVA
The flag of Moldova includes a golden cross held in its beak by an eagle, symbolizing Orthodox Christianity, the traditional and majority religion of that country.
MONTENEGRO
The current flag of Montenegro was adopted in 2004 and is based on the flag of the former Principality of Montenegro, adopted in 1852. The coat of arms of Montenegro includes a double-headed eagle with a royal crown bearing a cross at the top, evoking the former Kingdom of Montenegro (1910–1918).
NORWAY
The flag of Norway was adopted in 1821. It is reminiscent of the flag of Denmark, a country with which it was united for centuries, although at the time of its adoption, Norway was in a union with Sweden, with two distinct countries ruled by the same King.
NEW ZEALAND
Like other flags, the New Zealand flag includes the British flag in its canton, as a symbol of its historical connection with the United Kingdom.
SAN MARINO
Although San Marino has always been a republic since the Middle Ages, its flag, adopted in the 19th century and made official in 2011, includes a royal crown as a symbol of sovereignty. Above that crown is a cross. It should be noted that San Marino's origins date back to the time of the ancient Roman Empire, when its mountains became a refuge for Christians fleeing the persecutions unleashed against them by Emperor Diocletian.
SERBIA
The coat of arms of Serbia includes the so-called Serbian cross, which originates from the ancient Byzantine Empire. The four symbols next to the cross are B letters representing an ancient Byzantine motto referring to Christ: "Basileus Basileon, Basileuon Basileuonton" (King of Kings who reigns over those who reign). It is a symbol of Orthodox Christianity, the majority religion in that country.
SLOVAKIA
The Slovak flag dates back to 1848. It was the official flag of the Slovak Republic from 1939 to 1945. The flag with the coat of arms bearing the Patriarchal Cross, a traditional Christian symbol of Slovakia (a Catholic country), was made official in 1992 after the separation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
SPAIN
For 318 years (from 1525 to 1843) the Spanish Monarchy used a flag with the Cross of Burgundy. The current flag of Spain was adopted as the naval ensign in 1785 and as the national flag in 1843. The Spanish Constitution only defines the stripes of the flag, but the National Coat of Arms of Spain includes a cross atop the crown, a Christian symbol of this Catholic monarchy.
SWEDEN
The Swedish flag was officially established in 1562, making it one of the oldest flags in the world. Like other Scandinavian countries, the flag features the Nordic cross.
SWITZERLAND
Like the flag of Malta, the flag of Switzerland has a military origin. It is based on the flag of the Swiss canton of Schwyz, which was awarded by the Holy Roman Empire to Swiss mercenaries fighting in its service.
TONGA
The country includes a red cross on its national flag. It is a parliamentary monarchy, and its society is predominantly Christian, so its flag has a clearly religious significance.
TUVALU
This island nation in Oceania includes the British flag in its canton, with its corresponding crosses, as a symbol of its historical ties to the United Kingdom.
UNITED KINGDOM
The British flag, also known as the Union Jack, includes three crosses: the St. George's Cross (red on a white background), the symbol of England; the St. Andrew's Cross (white and cross-shaped on a blue background), the symbol of Scotland; and the St. Patrick's Cross (red and cross-shaped on a white background), which was the symbol of Ireland from 1783 to 1922.
VATICAN CITY
Vatican City, a Catholic country and the seat of the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, has the national flag with the most crosses: seven in total. There is one on the papal tiara (the Pope's crown), and six more crosses on the two infulae (the white ribbons below the tiara). These are, obviously, religious symbols.
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Images: Wikimedia.
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