Which country has a square flag? The history of the original state symbols.

The traditional form for the state cloth is a rectangle, so every exception becomes very famous. But the square flag of Mauritania is no longer used, and many other options are not considered official. Therefore now there are only two countries on the planet that use this form of the standard. What are these states and what is the meaning of their symbolism?

Vatican

The dwarven state-enclave is located on the territory of Rome. But despite its small size, it can be considered as an answer to the question of which country has a square flag, and this cloth has been used for many decades since June 1929. Then the Vatican State was officially founded. The square used by the country has a square field divided into two parts of the same size. The left one, located at the shaft, is golden-yellow in color, and the right one, at the free edge, is made in white. On the panel there is also an image of the coat of arms - it is a symbol that looks like crossed at right angles keys. One of them is gold with silver inserts, and the other is vice versa. This is the sign of the keys from Paradise and Rome. They are complemented by the papal tiara, which looks like a triple crown with a cross. On the flag it is made in gold with white ribbons falling. Its form refers to the symbolism of the Holy Trinity.

History of the Vatican symbolism

The modern flag of the Italian enclave can be a perfect answer to the question of which country has a square flag. But the previous version of the symbolism is suitable in the same quality. The version used now is a bit like the old version, so there is, of course, a similarity. The flag of the Papal States appeared in 1808 and represented a theocratic state, which was part of the Italian kingdom. It was square and also divided into two parts, the left one was gold, and the right one was white. It disappeared in 1870, when the Papal States ceased to exist, and returned with some transformations only in 1929.

Switzerland

Perhaps, the most popular answer to the question of which country has a square flag is this option. The Swiss standard is known all over the world, many associations are associated with it. However, very few people know that the form is connected with the military past of the country. The square flag of Switzerland is not legally approved, the ratio of its sides is simply a tradition. Color is officially considered a mixture of yellow and magenta, which corresponds to the 487th number of Pantone paint. The modern cloth is completed in the center by a white cross that does not reach the edges. According to the old decree, the length of its ends should be more than one-sixth wide.

History of occurrence

So how did Switzerland become one of the answers to the question of which country has a square flag, and what does this symbol mean? There are many opinions. According to some, the flag was created on the basis of the coat of arms of the Canton of Schwyz, though, then it resembled the Danish. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the standard was triangular. Only by the end of the nineteenth the cross on it stopped to reach the brim of the flag. It is also interesting that the symbol of the international medical organization came from the Swiss flag. The modern symbol of this alpine country has two options. The official (used by state organizations) is square, and the one that is used as a trade is distinguished by a completely classical rectangular shape. The second variant of the flag caused anxiety in the society that soon the changes would concern the main version, but fortunately the inhabitants of Switzerland, nothing happened. The most famous square flag in the world has retained its former appearance.