The modern flag of Jamaica: history, interesting facts

The pearl of the Caribbean, a beautiful island country of Jamaica has long been considered a tourist paradise. Romance of the pirate past, the spirit of freedom and the comfort of modern tourist infrastructure - this is Jamaica today. The ex-colony was freed from the influence of Great Britain in 1962, when the Jamaican flag project was developed. The law on the banner was adopted on August 6, 1962, on Independence Day. On this day, the flag of Jamaica rose for the first time over the island. The figure of the banner was chosen by the people of the state in a referendum.

Symbols of color and ornament

The flag depicts a golden oblique cross dividing the flag field into two green triangles in the vertical plane, and two black ones in the horizontal plane. Each color has its own function and symbolism.

Black color is the people of Jamaica, its mighty power and endless creative potential. Green is the hope and fertile soil, as well as the prospects for a happy and carefree future, thanks to the achievements of agriculture. The golden cross symbolizes the sun's rays, as well as the country's natural wealth, the main of which are rich bauxite deposits. By the way, about the black color there is a version that it is not only a symbol of the people of the country, but also of the difficulties that it has suffered, which not only were, but still will be. The green color of the flag of Jamaica is not taken from the European heraldic tradition, but from the emerging practice of the countries of liberated Africa, which in itself is quite symbolic.

Variants of the National Banner

Jamaica still remains part of the British Commonwealth, and the English Queen is the nominal head of state. The Queen (power) on the island is represented by the Governor-General. Before the adoption of the flag of an independent state, the British colony had a traditional red-blue-white British flag in the upper left corner of the blue cloth, and in the lower right corner - the coat of arms of Jamaica: an image of two natives in loincloths, a crocodile crowning the crown, and five pineapples . The colonialists can not be denied the ironic approach to the creation of state symbols. All the Indians on the island were exterminated by 1558.

The author of the coat of arms is William Sanderof. The natives are a man and woman of the Arawak tribe. The motto on the emblem is "Out of many, one people" or "Of many - one people". Some Rastaman fans translate the motto as "one crocodile in the field is not a warrior".

In connection with the status of Jamaica as a member of the British Commonwealth, there are still two more banners: the flag of the Governor General of Jamaica - the golden British lion and the crown on a blue background and the personal flag of Jamaica for Her Majesty the Queen - the English red cross on a white background, the monogram of the Queen Surrounded by a wreath of Tudor roses and four golden pineapple.

Interesting here is only the selection of the Tudor rose, even though this dynasty has not ruled the UK for quite some time.

Curious facts

It is interesting that in Germany in 2005 after unsuccessful elections to the Bundestag, the German media took this flag of Jamaica as an illustration of a possible coalition between the three German parties. Black meant conservatives (CDU / CSU), yellow - liberals (FDP), green - party of the Greens. It should be noted that the green and black colors of the flag of Jamaica are almost the official colors of the rastamans, admirers of Bob Marley and reggae music. Very often you can see as a wallpaper on the desktop and on T-shirts the flag of Jamaica - a photo depicting the famous performer of reggae music.