Spain – Yellow stands for generosity and red for hardiness, bravery and strength in the Spanish flag.China - The golden color of the Chinese flag symbolizes the Chinese race, while the red color stands for communism.The colors are based on the soldiers' uniforms which were black coats with red braid and gold buttons. Germany – The colors black, red and gold have been associated with Germany since the middle ages, but the current German flag colors are traced back to early 19th century volunteers, who fought for the country in the Napoleonic wars.Austria – The red and white of the Austrian flag symbolize the remembrance of the Duke’s blood-stained coat during battle.India – The colors of the Indian flag are saffron, white and green, which stand for courage and sacrifice, purity, and faith and fertility respectively.United States of America – What do the colors on the American flag mean? The red symbolizes valor and bravery, the white stands for purity and innocence and the blue signifies justice, perseverance and vigilance.Orange: Viewed as representation of courage and sacrifice.Įach country designs its flags to symbolize its history, culture and people, and the flag color meanings can vary dependent on the ideals of the specific country.It can also be used to represent happiness. Yellow (or Gold): Has long been viewed as a symbol of wealth and energy, as in the sun.It can also be viewed as youthfulness and hope. Green: Often seen as a symbol of agricultural influence, as well as prosperity and fertility.Blue: Signifies determination, liberation, alertness and good fortune.Other meanings include courage and domination, while it can also be viewed as an alert of danger. Red: Stands for power, revolution, vibrancy and war (symbolic of bloodshed).White: Seen as a symbol of peace, purity and harmony, and has also been used to represent surrender in times of battle.It can also be used as a symbol of death or mourning. Black: Often used to represent determination, ethnic heritage and/or the defeat of enemies.Regardless of the venue or reason, a flag’s design is created under careful consideration, and the colors used in its foundation represent far greater ideals than what is found on a simple color wheel.Ĭolors within flags differ from country to country and state to state the colors presented hold deep-seeded meaning and representation. Many families, organizations, and sports teams have also designed characteristic flags. In today’s society, every country in the world flies a representative flag, as well most states and territories within. Whitney Smith in 1957.įlags have been used in battle for symbolizing wins and defeats, or to send signals to allies and enemies. Vexillology, or the study of flags, takes its literal meaning from the Latin word for “guide,” a meaning which continues to carry weight in the use of flags today. Their meanings often exemplify the values, history and moral standing of the places or individuals they represent.įlags have been used as common symbols in history for over 5,000 years, dating as far back as 3000 BC with a metal Iranian flag and flag representation in Egyptian tomb carvings. Flags have long been used as representation of places and people, and the thought that goes into their design goes far beyond just the choosing of complimentary colors and images. We often take for granted the significance and meaning behind some of our most well-known symbols. Color Meanings in Flags | Country Flag Colors and More