Latvia Flag

Description

The Latvia flag is available from Flags Online in full-size and desk formats, printed on both sides and made to last outdoors.

About the Latvia Flag

The Latvia flag uses a colour combination found on almost no other national flag: a deep maroon-red, officially known as Latvian red, split by a narrow white stripe running horizontally through the centre. The proportions are fixed by law at two parts red, one part white and two parts red, giving the flag a heavier, darker appearance than most red-and-white designs.

Colours and Symbolism

The dark red of the Latvia flag is not meant to represent the bright red seen on many other flags. Latvian tradition ties the colour to a medieval legend recorded in the Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia, in which a wounded Latvian chief was wrapped in a white sheet before battle. Where his body touched the cloth it stayed white, while the rest darkened with blood, leaving a red-white-red pattern that later became the basis for the national colours. Whether or not the story is historically precise, it has been repeated for centuries and is closely bound up with how Latvians describe their flag today.

History of the Latvia Flag

The red-white-red pattern is thought to be one of the oldest flag designs still in use anywhere in the world, with written references going back to the thirteenth century. It was formally adopted as the state flag when Latvia declared independence in 1918, then banned during the decades of Soviet occupation that followed the Second World War, when Latvia was forced to fly a Soviet republic flag instead. The Latvia flag returned to official use as the country moved toward restoring its independence in 1990, and it was confirmed once again after full independence was regained in 1991. Latvian law now specifies the exact shade of red, since the colour had drifted over the years as different manufacturers produced flags.

Flying and Displaying the Flag

The Latvia flag is flown on government buildings every day and features heavily during Independence Day on 18 November. Latvians also observe a tradition of flying the flag, sometimes with a black mourning ribbon attached, on dates connected to the Soviet deportations and other difficult periods in the country’s history. Flag law sets out correct proportions and colour, and specifies that the flag should be lowered or removed in bad weather to prevent damage to the fabric.

Latvia Flag Sizes and Pricing

• 180 x 120cm — R860
• 22 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R800
• 10 x 15cm Desk Flag (10 units) — R650
• 90 x 60cm — R400

Material and Construction

Made from 100% polyester bunting material and digitally printed on both sides. Hemmed all around with two rows of stitching and finished with a polyester webbing heading. Rope and toggle for hoisting included.

Supplied in packs of 10. Printed on both sides onto polyester and supplied with a black plastic stick and removable base — take the base off and it doubles as a hand waving flag.

Ordering and Delivery

Every Latvia flag is printed to order and dispatched from our Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Johannesburg branches, with courier delivery nationwide. Bulk and school orders are welcome — contact us for volume pricing on quantities of 10 or more.

Additional information