Page 180 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

Asia

Lebanon

Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: December 7, 1943 Usage: National

The white band
symbolizes peace The cedar tree
represents holiness,
eternity, and strength

The two red stripes are
a symbol of self-sacrifice

Lebanon became independent in 1944, after
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,%"!./. 20 years as a French mandate. The country is
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The present Lebanese flag was of the country since the time of
adopted just prior to independence King Solomon, almost 3000 years
from France, in 1943. It was ago. Specifically, the cedar is the
designed to be a neutral flag, not symbol of the country’s Maronite
allied to any one of Lebanon’s Christian community. It first
religious groups. Red is thought to be appeared on a flag in 1861 when the
for the color of the uniforms worn by Lebanon was part of the Ottoman
the Lebanese Legion during World Empire. Soon after its collapse, the
War I. Officially the red is said to country became mandated to France
represent the people of Lebanon’s and its flag was a French Tricolore,
sacrifice during the struggle for with the Cedar of Lebanon in the
independence, and white white band of the Tricolore. The cedar
represents purity. symbolizes happiness and prosperity
for the country.
THE CEDAR OF LEBANON The present flag, with the cedar’s
Although the flag has only existed foliage and trunk in green, has a
for half a century, the tree at the variant in which the tree trunk is
center of the flag—the Cedar of brown—although this is not
Lebanon—has been an emblem officially recognized.

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