[For Seniors] Let’s have fun with a lively three-choice national flag quiz!

Three horizontal colors

The Netherlands has horizontal stripes of red, white, and blue, while Russia has white, blue, and red—both are three horizontal stripes. One reason there are so many tricolor flags is war. During the Dutch War of Independence against Spain, the orange, white, and blue “Prince’s Flag” was created. After the Netherlands successfully gained independence from Spain, many countries seem to have imitated the “Prince’s Flag,” which had become a symbol. Russia, Slovenia, and Croatia, among others, are said to have adopted horizontal tricolors as well.

Denmark

The flag of Denmark features a red design with a white cross. It is said to be the oldest national flag in the world, and according to legend, it descended from the sky in the early 13th century when the Danish king was struggling against his opponents. It is also considered the flag that led them to victory.

Sun

Let’s think of the greatest deity in Japan. That would be Amaterasu-Ōmikami, the sun goddess. As an agrarian people, the Japanese have long revered the sun as something unique and incomparable. Furthermore, they made the place where the sun rises—Hinomo-to, the origin of Japan’s name—their national flag.

Saudi Arabia

The flag of Saudi Arabia has a green background with white lettering. The white text is the Arabic “Shahada.” On the green field, which represents Islam, the confession of faith meaning “There is no god but Allah” is written. It is designed so that the text can be read correctly from both the front and the back.

The longest national flag in the world

The ratio of the Qatari flag is 11:28, with the width being more than twice the height. It’s said to be the narrowest, most elongated national flag in the world. By the way, Japan’s flag is 2:3, so the difference is obvious. The design features a serrated pattern in maroon on a white field. There are nine serrations, which are said to reference the nine former sheikhdoms and the fact that Qatar was the ninth British protectorate in the Gulf.

Cambodia

Angkor Wat symbolizes Cambodia. In fact, Cambodia’s national flag has changed its design several times over the years. However, it’s said that most versions of the flag feature Angkor Wat, even when the design changes. That’s how much it represents the pride of the peoples living in Cambodia and how important the temple is.

Pizza

There are various theories, but among pizzas, it’s said that the Margherita pizza takes its colors from the Italian flag. The green represents basil, the red stands for tomatoes, and the white symbolizes mozzarella cheese. The story goes that a famous Neapolitan pizzaiolo created it in the style of the national flag to honor the visiting King and Queen of Italy, giving birth to the Margherita pizza.