The Red and the White Trivia Quiz

One of Europe's oldest flags, the flag of Austria has been in use since 1230. According to a popular legend, the red-white-red horizontal triband was invented during the Third Crusade by Duke Leopold V, whose white surcoat became drenched in blood while fighting during the siege of Acre (1189-1191) - but for the area covered by his belt, which remained white. When Austria-Hungary was dissolved in 1918, it became the national flag of the short-lived republic of German Austria; it was then officially adopted as the national flag of Austria on 1 May 1945. The country's state flag features its coat of arms in the middle of the white band.

The Austrian Empire existed from 1804 to 1867, when it became known as Austria-Hungary. Besides those two countries, it included much of Central Europe, as well as Croatia and parts of northern Italy.

The flag of Singapore was adopted in 1959, when the small island country at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula gained self-governance within the British Empire, and remained its national flag when it achieved independence in 1965. The white crescent moon in the canton (upper-left quadrant) faces five small, five-pointed white stars arranged in a pentagon shape. While the moon is meant to symbolize "a young nation at the ascendant", and the stars stand for the national ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality, they also represent the Malay-Muslim and Chinese communities. The colour red represents universal fellowship and equality, while the white is a symbol of purity and virtue.

Located just one degree north of the Equator, Singapore consists of one main island and over 60 smaller islands and islets. It ranks as one of the world's most economically advanced countries.

One of only two square national flags (the other being that of Vatican City), the flag of Switzerland ("Schweizerfahne") was first used by Swiss general Niklaus Franz von Bachmann during the Napoleonic Wars, but was not officially described in its current appearance until 1889. However, the white cross in the centre of the flag - known as the Swiss cross or federal cross - is much older in origin, and was already used as a mark of identification by the troops of the Old Swiss Confederacy in the 15th century (possibly even earlier).

The design of the Red Cross symbol - a red cross in a white field - was based on the Swiss flag as a homage to Switzerland and the city of Geneva, where the organization was founded by Swiss businessman Henri Dunant in 1863. Switzerland's policy of neutrality was established in 1815 by the Treaty of Paris.

Also known as the Five-Cross Flag, the flag of Georgia was originally the flag of the medieval Kingdom of Georgia; its origins have been traced to the 12th century. It was adopted as a symbol of national identity in the late 20th century, when Georgia became independent from the Soviet Union (1991). It officially became the country's national flag on 14 January 2004, following the Rose Revolution of the previous year. The current design is a white rectangle with a red cross (St George's cross) in the centre, and four smaller crosses - known as Georgian or grapevine crosses - in the four corners.

Located in the Caucasus region, with a coastline on the Black Sea, Georgia is a transcontinental country: its northern portion lies within Eastern Europe, while the south is part of Western Asia.

Officially named Nisshōki ("flag of the sun"), the flag of Japan symbolizes the rising sun, embodying the meaning of the country's name of Nihon (or Nippon), "the sun's origin". However, the flag is commonly referred to as Hinomaru, which means "ball of the sun". Depicting a crimson circle in the middle of a white field, the flag is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages: there are many stories relating to its origins. In its current form, it was officially adopted as a civil ensign on 27 February 1868, during the Meij Restoration, and as a national flag on 13 August 1999.

Though one of the world's most technologically advanced nations - known for its cars and bullet trains ("shinkansen") - Japan is also a country steeped in the the love of nature. The cherry blossom ("sakura") is a beloved symbol of Japanese culture.

Known as the Dannebrog ("Danish cloth"), the flag of Denmark is often mentioned as the world's oldest continuously used national flag. According to a legend, a red flag bearing a white Nordic cross (an off-centre cross with arms extending towards the edges of the flag) fell from the sky on 5 June 1219, during a battle in which the Danes were about to be defeated by the pagan Estonians. The flag's appearance, however, led the Danish army to victory. That momentous day is celebrated every year as Valdemar's Day, after the king who was leading the army. However, the first records of the flag being used by Danish monarchs date from the 14th century.

The Dannebrog did not enter common use until the mid-19th century: in fact, in 1834 an edict forbade ordinary citizens from using it. It is still a very strong symbol of national identity, and used in Denmark for a wide variety of purposes - even as a decoration for birthday cakes or Christmas trees.

The Danish monarchy traces its origin from the Viking king Gorm the Old, who lived in the 10th century AD.

Called "al sancak" ("scarlet flag" or "red banner") in the first line of the Turkish national anthem, the flag of Turkey was adopted in its current, standardized version on 29 May 1936. However, the white star and crescent symbol placed slightly off-centre on the red field already appeared on the flag of the Ottoman Empire, where it had been officially adopted in 1844. When the Republic of Turkey was declared in 1923, the flag was kept. Though strongly associated with Islam, the crescent and star design does not have any religious connotations.

Though most of Turkey (notably the large Anatolian Peninsula) lies within Western Asia, the region of East Thrace is part of Southern Europe. The country's largest city, Istanbul, is mainly located in Europe.

The flag of Canada is one of the world's most readily recognizable. Its composition is quite distinctive: the central white band - referred to as Canadian pale - occupies half the width of the flag rather than one-third as in other red-white-red tribands. The stylized, red maple leaf charged in the centre of the white square has 11 points; the flag is also horizontally symmetric, with the obverse and reverse sides appearing identical. The maple leaf was first used as a national symbol on the coats of arms of Ontario and Québec in 1868, then was added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. The current design of the flag was adopted on 15 February 1965, replacing the Canadian Red Ensign: since 1996, 15 February is celebrated as National Flag Day.

Canada is the world's second-largest country, with a coastline of 243,042 km (151,019 mi).

The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal bands, the upper one white and the lower one red. These two colours were officially adopted as national colours in 1831, though they have been associated with the Central European country since the Middle Ages. The national colours are also enshrined in the Polish Constitution (1997). First adopted on 1 August 1919, the Polish flag changed the red band from crimson to vermilion in 1927; the crimson hue of red was restored in 1980. The flag with the country's coat of arms (the Polish eagle) charged in the white band is used as a civil and naval ensign, or flown in or before embassies, consulates and other missions abroad.

Poland's invasion by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939 marked the beginning of World War II.

Also known as "La Bicolor" (The Bicolour), the flag of Peru is a red-white-red vertical triband - as stated in the Peruvian constitution. The two outer red bands symbolize the blood spilled in the fight for the country's independence, while the white central band represents purity and peace. The flag was first adopted on 25 February 1825, four years after Peru's declaration of independence from Spain; the current version dates from 31 March 1950. The state flag ("pabellón nacional"), used by state institutions, bears Peru's coat of arms in the centre of the white band. Flag Day is celebrated in Peru on 7 June, the anniversary of the Battle of Arica fought in 1880 against Chile.

In the 15th century, present-day Peru was the centre of the Inca Empire, conquered by the Spanish in 1532.

The flag of Malta is a bicolour, white on the hoist side and red on the fly side, as stated in the country's constitution; it was adopted on 21 September 1964. These colours are traditionally believed to have been given to Malta in 1901 by Roger I, King of Sicily, though they probably derive from the flag of the Knights of Malta. The Maltese flag is also the only one in this quiz to feature a touch of another colour - black in the details of the George Cross charged in the canton (upper-left corner) of the white band. The George Cross was awarded to Malta by King George VI in 1942, in recognition of its people' heroic resistance during WWII. A debate is still ongoing on whether the cross should be removed because of its connection to the country's colonial past

A small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta became independent from the United Kingdom in 1964.

The flag of the Kingdom of Tonga is a red field with a white canton (upper-left corner) charged with a red cross. It dates from the time the island country was converted to Christianity, and in particular from the conversion of Taufa'ahau Tupou, who became the first king of modern Tonga with the name of George Tupou. The current version of the Tongan flag was adopted on 4 November 1875, the day in which the country's new constitution was proclaimed: under Article 47 of said constitution, the flag can never be altered and will always remain Tonga's flag.

Tonga is located in Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean. A kingdom for over 2,000 years, it is the only indigenous monarchy left in the Pacific Islands.