The Union Flag also known as the Union Jack is not actually symmetrical, so many people hang it upside down by mistake. 2 Wall or Window. Why is Wales not featured on the Union Flag? Oddly enough it's feminists, One of the UK's smallest towns has an award-winning pub and England's oldest fishing society, Where to get Greatest Hits Radio on FM and DAB and when Ken Bruce starts, The golden health rules GPs live by, including why you should ditch your weekend lie-ins, The Government delay of the Pensions Dashboard may well cost you tens of thousands of pounds, David Attenborough reportedly giving up on-location filming for documentaries after new series, Do not sell or share my personal information. The
given precedence. And therefore the design is not more special
Mount the flagpole off the building so it makes a 90-degree . Following a few guidelines can ensure we are displaying Old Glory properly. The national flag of the United Kingdom was first created in 1606. hoisting. correct way to hang union jack vertically. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Saint Andrew's Cross was on the flag first and takes precedence over Saint Patrick's cross. There are two aspects of the flag's orientation that may be relevant when a
to fly the Union Flag correctly, British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales, The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed, Lord Mandelson and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao signing an agreement. represents. It should be placed so that the top left corner of the flag is over the deceaseds left shoulder. flags rotate 90 degrees and are then turned over. the category that such cross flags as Swiss and Scandinavian cross flags
On page 47 of Znamierowski's World Encyclopedia of Flags [zna99]
Note: The government issued new guidance on flying the Union Flag in an effort to strengthen the institutions that define Britain. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The wider ones should sit on top of the diagonal red stripes. For example, the US
X It is said that hanging the flag upside down is a distress signal, and it can even come across as an insult. Is that really so? The blue field should go on the viewer's left, whether you display the flag vertically or horizontally on the wall. ", How to Know if a Union Jack Has Been Hung Upside Down, http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/flying-flags-in-the-united-kingdom/british-flag-protocol/, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135545/Embarrassment-No10-Union-Jack-flies-upside-down.html, https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/politics/183717/flag-fail-eu-accidentally-hoists-union-jack-upside-down/, http://www.learnenglish.de/culture/unionjack.html, http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/Flying_Flags_in_the_United_Kingdom.pdf, http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-vert.html, saber si la bandera del Reino Unido est al revs. To learn how to properly wear the flag on a uniform, keep reading! Some people believe it can only be called the Union Jack when it's sailed at sea, and when on land, it should be called the Union Flag. 1. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace." But the Union Jack flag must be flown the correct way up. Ensure the thick white line is on the top left, if hung vertically. With the consent of the church tower authorities, the hanging of a Union flag is a matter of choice, provided the flag is flown following all appropriate protocols, such as raising at sunrise and lowering at sunset, or illuminating at night. The only correct way to fly the Union Jack flag is when the half nearest to flagpole displays the wider diagonal white stripe above the red diagonal stripe. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. A good mnemonic device to use is "wide white top.". When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. Whether the flag hangs from an angled or horizontal staff, be sure the union or canton (the rectangle with the stars) is at . We have also sought opinions from our own customers in a special Facebook poll. Only fly the flag at night when it is illuminated. Don't hang your flag backwards, upside down, or in another inappropriate fashion. If it is outdoors (e.g., on
In fact, of those that took part, 70% answered correctly! This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. top-left hand corner) should still be at the top-left. The first Union Flag was created in 1606 and combined the flags of England and Scotland. ', By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse If the reverse
It cannot ever be seen as if it were in retreat. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Due to high winds, flags may become torn or ripped. corner. prescribed by law for vertical hoisting - only horizontal flag is in the law
Back to the start of 'The Making of the UK Flag'. When being hung over a street, the union should ideally point north or east. In 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. a particular direction, such as the north or the east. A YouGov poll in 2017 showed that fewer than half of the UK population knows the history or even how to correctly fly the Union Flag which may also be called the Union Jack. % of people told us that this article helped them. Luckily, if you pay close attention to the size of the stripes, you can hang your Union Jack the right way every time. direction, and some in the other, although this may have been because noone
It is easy to fly the Union Flag the wrong way up, if close attention is not paid to the design. The inclusion of St. Patricks cross is interesting because St. Patrick was not martyred and therefore did not have a cross. Hang With the Union on the Viewer's Left. Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 23 May 2014, both normal and rotated shields have been seen, shield with virgin is rotated so that she remains upright, The blue stripes are narrower than usual to allow the Angkor-Vat
indeed have special paragraphs devoted to how to deal with their flags when
The flag is therefore not just rotated
I don't remember seeing this in the list of corrections. be hoisted vertically in two ways - either the symbol can be left in the
Research source reversed, with the Irish flag being above the Scottish flag. the flag is visible, even if they are applied differently. However, the union, or blue field, should always be to the viewer's left (and the flag's right). or different the two sides are. In general, which edge is at the top also matters. Your email address will not be published. so it is called the hoist. rules when there are vertical hoisting versions of the flag such as Saudi
English they are the normal sort of flag) are made to fly from a flagpole, so
The flag should never touch the ground or water in any way, even when it is being displayed with other national flags from . a situation of 'DISTRESS'. The list provided to me is
So why isnt it included? Debate has long raged about the correct terminology. You can check whether the flag has been hung correctly by looking at the stripes on the side furthest from the flagpole. More difficult are the aspect ratios - I modify the
Look at the white diagonal stripes on the side closest to the flagpole. Section 7g of the Flag Code states: "When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The canton is the position of honour on the flag and it should always appear in the upper left-hand corner when the flag is being flown (either horizontally or vertically). situations. The proper way to hang the American flag both traditionally and vertically is always with the union or blue field with the white stars in the top left from a visitor's perspective. Store your flag folded in a triangle, with stars showing on top. lengths just doesn't work vertically). To hang the flag the right way up, the wider diagonal white stripe above the red diagonal stripe must be nearest to the flag pole. A . For example, when the flag is displayed horizontally, the stars will be in the uppermost left corner. Flags with symbols on them can be hoisted vertically in two ways - either the symbol can be left in the position as if the flag was 'normal' (as is done with the Croatian flag), or it could be rotated, so that it remains in a horizontal position, even if the flag is rotated (a . ': Messages reveal frantic hours after Hancock affair story breaks, 'The man is a narcissist': Tories despair as 'bully' Boris Johnson threatens Sunak's new start, Instagram midwife faces misconduct hearing over racially offensive posts, Government WhatsApp decision-making threatens 'accountability', warns Information Commissioner, Maternity expert pulls out of conference accused of promoting 'normal birth' ideology, Suella Braverman to issue blasphemy guidance for schools following Quran incident in Wakefield, Ken Bruce's final show reminded us he doesn't just talk to everyone, he listens to them, too, Who hates my naked protests most? Because the Union Flag is not symmetrical, many people unknowingly hang it upside downso here's a handy guide, read on. On When hanging your flag vertically, the thick white stripe should be on the top of all the other . A particular example is
this seemingly arbitrary idea exists simply to make sure that there is only
How the flag might look with the Welsh Dragon included. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. See More Photos. an upside down Union Jack). Use it as masking for boxes, barriers, or the intervening space between a dais or, Cover a statue, monument or plaque with it. Must you call it the Union Flag if its on land? Flags will usually be flown at half-mast during all Royal and national days of mourning, although Union Flags should fly at full-mast on Remembrance Sunday. You can display the American flag either horizontally or vertically against a wall. Furthermore, few people realise that there is a correct way. YouGov clarifies this position: Despite the current confusion, the debate on whether the flag can be called the Union Jack seems to have been settled as far back as 1908. The flag should be hung in a way that the union the blue section with the 50 stars is always in the top left corner of the flag. When flying your flag, the thicker, wider white stripe nearest the flag pole should sit on the left as you look at the flag. Dont worry if not because you are not alone! The Royal Union Flag or Union Jack is only designated to be displayed on Victoria Day, the anniversary of the Statute of Westminster and on Commonwealth Day. 1245 centre st, west roxbury phone number $ 0.00 Cart. Wall-mounted flags are a less permanent way of displaying a flag. Plus, a further 22% didnt know, so you are in the majority! particular country, the rules may be spelt out (or not) to varying degrees. Also make sure the flag is completely outstretched so its lying flat against the wall. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. For more information about hanging an American flag vertically outdoors, check out the infographic to the right. But, if you pay close attention to the size of the stripes, youll hang it the right way every time. What is the difference between the Union Jack and Union Flag? A good day to fly a Union flag is the second Saturday of June, the Queen's Official Birthday. flag; 2 Flag is rotated for vertical hanging;
the design;and 5: Method of vertical hanging implied but
Treat Old Glory with respect by following these rules. Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it. One of the edges must be closest to the pole, and
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. This article has been viewed 217,935 times. Hanging the Flag Upside Down. In fact, it may be a surprise to you that there's a 'correct way' to hang it at all. 4 Hang a flag vertically. This image is
not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website.
Technically, yes, it is more correct to call it the Union Flag, because a "jack" is a small flag that is hung over a mast on a boat, so the only true "Union Jacks" are the "Union Jacks" which have been put on a mast. The . When the Union Flag wascreated, Wales had already been invaded and was part of the former Kingdom of England. Research source Pubs can stay open until 1am on King coronation weekend as licensing rules relaxed, If we lose the cultural battle, Ukraine will not survive: How culture became the front line, Hard to accept people throwing food in the bin: Ukrainians adjust to new life in Berlin, The Queen is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. position, Graham Bartram, eljko Heimer, 07 August 1996. CONTACT |
These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It should be placed to the right of the speaker or service leader. Flying a Flag at Half Mast. to a different flag. So can you call it the Union Jack if it is not on a boat at sea? the USA, fall in category 3. Luckily, if you pay close attention to the size of the stripes, you can hang your Union Jack the right way every time. amount of wind and the position of the viewer with respect to the pole. If you hang the flag vertically, make sure the thick white line is on the top left. SITEMAP. just rotates, so as to keep the thick white stripe uppermost in the top-left
Our customers must be a knowledgeable bunch, because only 45% of the YouGov respondents. Of course, in any
In due course, things changed and in 1536, under Henry VIII, the Act of Union joined England and Wales officially. On the Australian National Flag and Australian State flags, the Union Jack is placed in the upper left-hand quarter (known as the 'canton') nearest the flagpole. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. "The mnemonic "wide white top" was useful, but I think that a simpler method to understand the entire. It is from this time that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed. Answer (1 of 6): It is symbolic. (The Flag Institute is the British centre of excellence for everything connected with flags, past, present and future). Terminology. In the UK, flying the flag upside down can be considered an insult, even if it was an honest mistake. Company Limited by Guarantee. Post author: Post published: June 21, 2022; Post category: . displayed on their reverse side (i.e., that the upper part of the flag comes
United Kingdom.The United States are an
(I have unfortunately lost my notes on exactly which flag
If there is significant difference between the two sides, then the design
The salute is held until the Flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the . one side of the flag can be seen, it is common for there to be one side of the
The Union Flag with the St. George's Cross removed This is often considered a sign of disrespect for those that live in the UK. Sign up to our newsletter and receive all the latest products and special offers. Note: The Union Flag has a correct way up, it is not reversible, and it is considered improper to fly the British flag upside down. temple to be (rotated horizontally), flag is hung with reverse showing (i.e., maple leaf stalk on right), the white stripe should be on the left side, flag is hung with reverse showing, but parrot retains original
The correct way to hang a flag on a wall is to position the field of stars at the top. Arabia, North Korea). It is clearly a good idea to use the flag's own
According to the U.S. General Flag Display and American Flag Etiquette. But you could also argue that there have only been a few minor design changes since the 1600s. eljko Heimer, 25 March 2000, According to information supplied to me by the Flag
hoisted comes to the observer's left. With another flag, place the U.S. flag to your left when crossed. on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament. If on a staff or pole, the lowest corner of the flag should be brought to the level of the rail. The dipped flag remains lowered until the salute is acknowledged by the military vessel, by dipping its own flag in turn. not a complete list. That is because there is no statutory Flag Act for it, by law, in the United Kingdom. one possibility. But would you call it the Union Jack or the Union Flag? On a street that . It is not half way up the flag pole, as you might have expected, The supports need to be at the manufacturer's recommended spacing, but no longer than 4 maximum. Is it time to make a change and become more familiar with the flag of our country? correct way to hang union jack vertically. Examples they give here, on the gov.uk website (opens in new tab), include the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday on the 9th January, the anniversary of the Queen's accession on 6th February, and the Queen and Prince Philip's wedding anniversary (opens in new tab), on 20th November. I tend to think that
For some years it was called just the Jack, or Jack flag, or the Kings Jack. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Another way to tell if the flag is the right way is to look at the white diagonal stripes on the side furthest from the flagpole. When should the Union Flag be flown at half-mast? coat-of-arms vertical on vertically hoisted flags, though if they maybe do not
It must be remembered though, that this flag-flying business is not as straightforward as it seems, as shown in this article! . "I once put my Union Jack flag upside down and my neighbor came and told me it was upside down. For category 2, none come to mind
When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. but the height of the flag from the top of the pole. If you're hanging the flag on a wall, hang it so the union is in the top left corner. If you put multiple flags on a halyard of your boat, the U.S. flag should always be at the top . hoisted vertically, but I do not think that one should call those designs
It is improper to use the flag as drapage for seat covers or tablecloths, or as a cover for boxes, barriers, or art during an unveiling ceremony. When flags are at half-mast the lower flag must be removed. (I should double-check, but). It comprised the following references: It was ordered that the flag be flown at the main masthead of all ships, warships and merchant ships, of both England and Scotland. Also of note in the protocol is the dual status of the Union Jack. Remember, fringed American flags should never be displayed against the wall. When hanging over a street: the union of the flag should face north in an east/west street. The Union Jack should be flown at half-mast (half way down the flag pole) when the death of a soverign is announced.