What Flag is That? Trivia Quiz

Answer: La Rojigualda

The basic form of the Spanish flag (three horizontal stripes, of red, yellow and red) has been around since the eighteenth century. The current version, incorporating the coat of arms of the Spanish Royal family, was introduced in 1981, following the restoration of the monarchy in 1978.

Answer: New Zealand

The four stars represent the constellation of stars known as the "Crux Australis" or Southern Cross. The flag of its neighbour, Australia, is superficially similar, but represents the Southern Cross with five stars, and includes a further large white star known as the Commonwealth Star.

Answer: Brazil

There are 27 stars on the blue disc, arranged in the form of various constellations visible in the southern sky. Each one also represents one of the 26 states of Brazil, plus one for the federal district. The national motto across the band reads "Ordem e progresso" - Order and Progress.

The home strip of Brazil's national football team includes yellow shirts, with either green or blue shorts.

Answer: Ukraine

It is sometimes claimed that the flag represents blue sky over golden wheat fields, although this appears to be an explanation dreamed up after the flag was adopted. Indeed, for a short period from around 1917, when the country was known as the Ukrainian People's Republic, the flag was similar, but with the colour bands transposed - yellow above, blue beneath.

Answer: George Cross

The George Cross is an award for gallantry that is awarded by the United Kingdom, and is the highest that can be awarded to civilians. During the Second World War, Malta (then a strategically-vital British colony) resisted attacks by both land and sea from German and Italian forces, and in 1942 King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island's people as a whole, for their bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.

Although Malta became independent in 1964, its flag still retains the symbol as a tribute to its people's courage.

Answer: Libya

The crescent and star represent the Islamic religion of the country. The red originally represented the blood of the Libyans who died during its struggle for independence, while green is a traditional colour representing Islam. The all-green flag was in use during the dictatorship of Colonel Gaddafi.

Answer: Ireland

The Republic of Ireland's flag consists of the same three vertical blocks of colour, but with the green and orange transposed. In the case of the Ivory Coast, the orange is said to represent the country's northern savannah and the green the forests in the south, with white representing its rivers (as well as the more general concept of peace).

Answer: Denmark

The Danish national flag is known as the "Dannebrog", which roughly translates as "Danish cloth". It dates back to 1219, and legend has it that it was given directly to the Danes by God, descending from the sky as an inspiration for victory during the Battle of Lyndanisse (sometimes known as the Battle of Valdemar).

The off-centre cross design is known as a Scandinavian Cross, and also occurs in the design of the other countries shown.

Answer: True

This original design, with a map of Bangladesh in the centre of the red disc, was designed in 1971 to represent the country (then known as East Pakistan) during its war of independence against West Pakistan. The simpler design, without the map, was formally adopted the following year (1972).

Answer: Cedar

The flag is that of Lebanon, as adopted in 1943. The "Cedar of Lebanon" (Cedrus libani) is a species native to the region that has for thousands of years been associated with the country, and was important to several ancient civilisations in the Mediterranean area, including the Egyptians and Phoenicians. A number of specific references to the "cedar of Lebanon" are made in the Bible.