The flag of Kiribati (Gilbertese: buraki ni Kiribati) is red in the upper half with a gold frigatebird (Fregata minor, in Gilbertese: te eitei) flying over a gold rising sun (otintaai), and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean and the three archipelagoes (Gilbert, Phoenix and Line Islands). The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (former Ocean Island).
A horizontal bicolour of red and blue with the yellow frigate bird flying over the rising sun with seventeen rays centered on the upper half and three white wavy horizontal stripes on the lower half.
The yellow frigatebird symbolises command over the sea, freedom, and dance patterns.[1][2] The blue and white wavy bands represent the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds Kiribati, and the sun refers to Kiribati's position astride the Equator.[3]
Following the schedule 2 (section 8) of the National Identity Act of 1989, the official description is this one:[4]
"The bird is a frigate bird which represents power, freedom and Kiribati cultural dance patterns".
"The rising sun is the tropical sun as Kiribati lies astride the Equator".
"The sea is the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati".
HistoryEdit
Flag of Kiribati
Kiribati's flag is an armorial banner, a flag having a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms, the former badge of the flag of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In a letter on 15 August 1931 to the Western Pacific High Commissioner, Arthur Grimble has written (concerning his badge proposal):
"Sea. Represents the space of the ocean in which the colony is isolated".
"Sun. The islands lie close to the 180 degree meridian. Sun is either rising or setting".
"Bird. Frigate bird (Fregat Aquilla (sic)) symbolises power, poise and freedom. To the natives it is a sign of sovereignty and kingly birth, and highly regarded as such".
The coat of arms dates was then granted by the College of Arms in May 1937 when it was officially granted to the colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The shield was incorporated into the centre of the fly half of a British Blue Ensign as the state ensign of the colony.
Shortly before independence was granted in 1979, a local competition was held to choose a new national flag, and a design based on the colonial coat of arms was submitted to the College of Arms. The College of Arms decided to modify this design. Both the golden frigatebird and the sun were enlarged to occupy more of the top of the flag, and the width of the blue and white wavy bands was reduced. The local people, however, insisted on the original design, in which the top and bottom halves of the flag were equal, the sun and local frigate bird small, and the various design elements outlined in black. The new flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations in the capital, Tarawa, on 12 July 1979.
flag, kiribati, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Flag of Kiribati news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The flag of Kiribati Gilbertese buraki ni Kiribati is red in the upper half with a gold frigatebird Fregata minor in Gilbertese te eitei flying over a gold rising sun otintaai and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean and the three archipelagoes Gilbert Phoenix and Line Islands The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba former Ocean Island Republic of KiribatiUseNational flag and ensignProportion1 2Adopted12 July 1979 44 years ago 1979 07 12 DesignA horizontal bicolour of red and blue with the yellow frigate bird flying over the rising sun with seventeen rays centered on the upper half and three white wavy horizontal stripes on the lower half Designed byArthur GrimbleThe yellow frigatebird symbolises command over the sea freedom and dance patterns 1 2 The blue and white wavy bands represent the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati and the sun refers to Kiribati s position astride the Equator 3 The flag is derived from a badge designed by Sir Arthur Grimble in 1931 for the flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands British colony and granted in 1937 Contents 1 Official description 2 History 3 Historical flags of Kiribati 4 ReferencesOfficial description EditFollowing the schedule 2 section 8 of the National Identity Act of 1989 the official description is this one 4 The bird is a frigate bird which represents power freedom and Kiribati cultural dance patterns The rising sun is the tropical sun as Kiribati lies astride the Equator The sea is the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati History Edit nbsp Flag of KiribatiKiribati s flag is an armorial banner a flag having a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms the former badge of the flag of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands In a letter on 15 August 1931 to the Western Pacific High Commissioner Arthur Grimble has written concerning his badge proposal Sea Represents the space of the ocean in which the colony is isolated Sun The islands lie close to the 180 degree meridian Sun is either rising or setting Bird Frigate bird Fregat Aquilla sic symbolises power poise and freedom To the natives it is a sign of sovereignty and kingly birth and highly regarded as such The coat of arms dates was then granted by the College of Arms in May 1937 when it was officially granted to the colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands The shield was incorporated into the centre of the fly half of a British Blue Ensign as the state ensign of the colony Shortly before independence was granted in 1979 a local competition was held to choose a new national flag and a design based on the colonial coat of arms was submitted to the College of Arms The College of Arms decided to modify this design Both the golden frigatebird and the sun were enlarged to occupy more of the top of the flag and the width of the blue and white wavy bands was reduced The local people however insisted on the original design in which the top and bottom halves of the flag were equal the sun and local frigate bird small and the various design elements outlined in black The new flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations in the capital Tarawa on 12 July 1979 Historical flags of Kiribati Edit nbsp nbsp Flag of the Kingdom of Abemama April 1884 June 1884 nbsp nbsp Flag of the Kingdom of Abemama June 1884 1889 nbsp nbsp Flag of the Kingdom of Abemama 1889 1892 nbsp nbsp Royal flag of the Kingdom of Abemama 1889 1892 nbsp nbsp Flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands 1937 1976 nbsp nbsp Flag of the Gilbert Islands 1976 1979 References Edithttp www paclii org ki legis num act nia1989197 pdf Kiribati Flag and Description Kiribati Flag description Government Flag of Kiribati National Identity Act 1989 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flag of Kiribati amp oldid 1175761458, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
