Today on Hey, Flag!, we have three special guests from Europe.
Hey, Flag! Tell us about yourself!
"I am the flag of Denmark. Called the Dannebrog, I am over eight-hundred years old.
"Legend says I fell from heaven. In the thirteenth century, King Valdemar II was fighting a battle—and losing. Suddenly a red banner with a white cross fell from the sky. The king and the Danish army thought my sudden appearance was a sign from God. Everyone was filled with courage to fight even harder, and the Danes won the battle.
"Ever since then, I have been an important symbol to the Danish people. People proudly fly me on June 15, Valdemar's Day, to celebrate my miraculous appearance. But that's not the only day Danes celebrate me. People often decorate birthday cakes and Christmas trees with my image too.
"Before I go, I have something else to brag about. My design inspired the flags of other Nordic countries. Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland all have cross designs too."
Hey, Flag! Tell us about yourself!
"I am the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. My design comes from the different countries that make up the UK. I am one of the most recognizable flags in the world.
"A long time ago, England and Scotland were separate kingdoms with different flags. In England, St. George's Cross was on the flag. This is a red cross on a white background called a field. In Scotland, St. Andrew's Cross was on the flag. This is a diagonal white cross on a blue field.
"In 1603 King James of Scotland became the king of England, uniting the two kingdoms. He wanted a new flag to represent this union. That's when I was created!
"Almost two centuries later, I was redesigned because Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. St. Patrick is an important saint to Ireland. So St. Patrick's Cross was added to my design. This is a diagonal red cross on a white field. Though only Northern Ireland is in the UK today, my design has stayed the same.
"You may have seen me on the flags of Australia and New Zealand. In fact, I appear on the flags of several other countries and places.
Hey, Flag! Tell us about yourself!
"My name is the Tricolore, which means three colors. I am the flag of France. I was created around 1789 during the French Revolution. That's when the French people removed their monarchy and set up the First French Republic. My design was seen to represent the ideals of the revolution: liberty, equality, and fraternity.
"Why do I have red, white, and blue stripes? No one knows for sure! But people who supported the revolution wore red, white, and blue ribbons. And the colors do have other historical meanings. Red and blue are the colors of Paris, the capital of France. Red is associated with St. Denis, the protector of Paris. And blue is linked to St. Martin, who was known for helping the poor.
"Some people think my white stripe represents the nation. Others think it recognizes the old monarchy's white royal flag.
"After I was officially adopted in 1794, France's politics remained stormy. Two decades later, France had a king again. I was replaced for a while by the white royal flag. I returned in 1830. Apart from a few days, I've proudly been the flag of France ever since."
I hope you learned a lot from our guests. Your flag has a rich history. What does your flag mean?