The current flag of Canada is made up of two red vertical rectangles at the tips and a white square in the middle, with the maple leaf image in red.
This leaf has 11 points and is a stylization of the maple tree leaf, very common in the country. Its scientific name is Acer platanoides and its beauty attracts attention in autumn, when its leaves turn red.
The two red rectangles symbolize the two oceans that bathe Canadian territory: the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. And the white square represents Canadian territory. Its ratio is 2:1, that is, if the flag is 1 meter wide, it must be 2 meters long.
Throughout history Canada has had different flags and it was only in 1965, after some years of discussion and various creations, that the current flag was made official.
current flag of canada
The History of the Canadian Flag
THE board leaf was used as symbol of Canada since the 18th century, by the indigenous peoples of the region, and had already been proposed as a symbol of the country several times before being officially adopted in the flag.
Red and white have been the country's colors since 1921, when King George V (1865-1936) proclaimed these to be the official colors of Canada.
Red is believed to represent the Cross of St. George on the English flag and white to be a reference to the royal emblem of France - Canada was colonized by both countries.
For years Canada used flags similar to those of France and England. At the end of the 19th century, the discussion about the need for the country to adopt its own national flag began.
This need became even more evident during the two world wars, but all attempts failed to reach a consensus on what the flag would look like.
Standard used from 1957 to 1965, last before the adoption of the current flag.
In the year 1946, a parliamentary commission was even organized to vote among 2600 flag designs received, but there was no formal vote.
It was only in 1964 that Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson (1897-1972) declared that he wanted to adopt a national flag. After several discussions, three pavilion models were presented.
The Canadian flag, as we know it today, was created by historian George Stanley and was chosen in 1964, being made official on February 15, 1965 by Queen Elizabeth II of Canada.
On that day, the old flag was lowered while the new one was raised. The people sang the Canadian anthem and the song "God Save the Queen".
Learn more about the meaning of country flags.
Royal Union Flag
Another flag still used on some occasions is the Royal Union Flag, the same flag of the United Kingdom, as a symbol of belonging to the commonwealth.
commonwealth it is the British Commonwealth of Nations, made up of 53 countries, almost all part of the former British Empire.
Royal Union Flag
Fun facts about the Canadian flag
- The maple leaf has 11 points, because after a test in a wind tunnel, it was found that this composition was the least cloudy in conditions of strong winds.
- The Canadian pavilion was inspired by the flag of the Royal Military School of Canada and was also created for the celebration of the country's centenary, which would be completed in 1967.
See also the meaning of Brazil's flag, japan flag and Russian flag.