Flag of Madagascar: description, meaning, similarity with other symbols

The Madagascar symbol is distinguished by its ancient history and resembles the cloth of an entirely different country. What are the implications of the flags in each case and how do the other elements of the heraldry of this African country look?

Modern look

The now-used flag of Madagascar is distinguished by traditional rectangular outlines with a length-to-width ratio of two to one. There are three bands on it, two horizontally and one vertically. The shaft is white. Horizontally located red and green, the first from above, and the second below. Each color can be associated with history events. Red and white flag of Madagascar recalls the kingdom of Mary, which was conquered by the French in the late nineteenth century and whose inhabitants were the largest ethnic group of the country. Such flowers were used by the last monarch, Queen Ranavalona the Third. There is a theory that they are connected with the red and white cloth of the Sunda archipelago. Green represents a tribe of hovs, peasants, who played an important role in anti-government agitation and the liberation movement. The modern flag of Madagascar was adopted in October 1958.

Flag with identical arrangement of colors

In the history of the world, coincidences of symbolism are rare. But this can be said about the flag of Madagascar and Belarus - they look very similar. The latter also uses three colors with a vertical white stripe and a horizontal red top and a green bottom. The difference lies in the size of the first - it occupies only one ninth panel. The width and length are a proportion of one to two. The red color on the banner is a symbol of the Battle of Grunwald, which has become victorious for the Belarusians. This is also the banner of the Red Army, and the sign of partisan brigades. Green means spring, rebirth, hope, fields and forests. Located on the white Belarusian ornament symbolizes the ancient folk culture and unity. It is interesting that Belarus is the only country from the USSR that did not abandon the old cloth, but only changed it. The presence of the ornament does not make it all one hundred percent like the flag of Madagascar, which helps to avoid problems.

State Emblem

To learn the history of the country better, it is worth to learn the details of all the heraldic symbols that Madagascar uses. The flag and the coat of arms are of equal importance and are often used together. Officially the emblem of Madagascar was approved in 1992, it happened after the fall of the socialist regime in the country . The state emblem is based on a yellow disk. In the center is a schematic map depicting the large island of Madagascar, along with two small ones. Under the picture is the head of the zebu, the national animal state, which resides predominantly on its territory. Going from the disk, the green and red rays give the round golden seal the appearance of the sun. The coat of arms also contains inscriptions, each of which is made in the Malagasy language. The text "REPOBLIKAN'I MADAGASIKARA" means "Republic of Madagascar", and the phrase "TANINDRAZANA - FAHAFAHANA - FANDROSOANA" is the motto of the state. In Russian translation it sounds like "Homeland, Freedom, Development".