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Hanging Flags Vertically

Last modified: 2005-03-19 by phil nelson
Keywords: vertical | indoors |
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The rule is that when a flag is hung vertically the honour point (i.e., the top-left hand corner) should still be at the top-left. This means that most flags rotate 90 degrees and are then turned over. For example, the US flag has to be reversed to keep the canton in the top-left. The union flag just rotates, so as to keep the thick white stripe uppermost in the top-left corner. This all stems from heraldic practice, and basically mean creating new flags for many countries. More difficult are the aspect ratios - I modify the aspect ratios to 2:3 so that when hung in groups the flags are all the same height (I tried varying the widths but that looked daft, and having different lengths just doesn't work vertically).
Graham Bartram, 8 August 1996


Flags are often hoisted vertically, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (including Italy, Austria and Germany). 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 well known example is the flag of Liechtenstein).

It should be pointed out that normally the vertically hoisted flag is displayed from the reverse, so that the side that is seen when horizontally hoisted comes to the observer's left. The flag is therefore not just rotated 90 degrees, but also flipped around. There are, of course exceptions, which will be noted.

I believe that most of the flags when hoisted vertically should be displayed on their reverse side (i.e., that the upper part of the flag comes to the observer's left). With bi- and tricolours, there is no problem. The problem arises with the flags that have some symbol on them - whether they should be displayed rotated together with the flags or not. Here are some that do not change the emblem, i.e., the flag is the same as if it would be for normal hoisting:
Željko Heimer, 7 August 1996


On page 47 of Znamierowski's World Encyclopedia of Flags there is a short discussion on vertical hoisting of the national flags. Four countries are mentioned forbidding such practice, namely Brazil, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Is that really so? But then what about vertically hoisted flags of those countries on some recent sporting events (this seems to be popular there lately). At least for Saudi Arabia we have on FOTW special design for vertical hoisting. Is it official, and if so was it made official lately (so Znamierowski could be actually right)? Or is it just the record of what is done in practice, weather official or not.

When I think of it, I can't remember ever seeing a Pakistan or Sri Lanka flag vertically hoisted in their countries (OK, I admit I have not seen much of them otherwise, but...) For Brazil, I am not so sure...

Still regarding the same issue, Znamierowski writes that Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Slovenia have special design of their flags for vertical hoisting. In case of Liechtenstein and Slovakia, I am not sure, it may be that the laws on flag in those countries ind