Greece .gr

Meaning of the Flag

The national flag of Greece, popularly referred to as the Blue-and-White (Γαλανόλευκη, Galanólefki) or the Cyan-and-White (Κυανόλευκη, Kyanólefki), is officially recognised by Greece as one of its national symbols and has 5 equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity. While the nine stripes do not have any official meaning, the most popular interpretation says that they represent the syllables of the phrase Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος (Freedom or Death): the five blue stripes for the syllables in Ελευθερία, the four white for those of ή Θάνατος. Furthermore, these stripes represent each of the nine geographical regions. == Historical background == It has been suggested by historians that the current flag derived from an older design, the virtually identical flag of the powerful Cretan Kallergis family.

Meaning of Flag Colors

There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Flag History

1. 1800
   A military leader, Yiannis Stathas, used a flag with white cross on blue on his ship since 1800.
2. 1822–1978
   

   It was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822.
3. 1978–present
   

   Current national flag, in use since 1978.

Location