Flag of Lebanon

The national flag of Lebanon () is a horizontal triband of two red stripes enveloping a central white stripe which is twice the height of each red stripe. Centered on the white stripe is a green cedar of Lebanon tree (Cedrus libani), touching both red stripes.

Adopted on 7 December 1943, shortly before Lebanon gained independence from France, the flag's design reflects the country's geography, history, and cultural heritage. The red stripes are commonly interpreted as symbolizing the blood shed by the Lebanese people during their struggles for independence, while the white stripe represents peace, purity, and the snow-capped mountains of Lebanon. The cedar tree, a national symbol for centuries, stands for immortality, resilience, and hope, embodying Lebanon's identity as the "Land of the Cedars".

The flag's origins trace back to the early 20th century, with the cedar tree becoming a prominent symbol during the French mandate period. The current design was finalized during a tense political climate in 1943, when Lebanon unilaterally abolished the French mandate. The flag was formally introduced into the Lebanese Constitution on 7 December 1943, with its design standardized in 1990 to feature an entirely green cedar tree. In 1979, 21 November was declared as National Flag Day to honor the first flag-raising in 1943.

Design

thumb|Construction sheet

According to the Article 5 of the Constitution of Lebanon, adopted on 7 December 1943: "The Lebanese flag shall be composed of three horizontal stripes, a white stripe between two red ones. The width of the white stripe shall be equal to that of both red stripes. In the center of and occupying one third of the white stripe is a green Cedar tree with its top touching the upper red stripe and its base touching the lower red stripe."

The constitution does not provide any additional color and design specifications, and before the amendment of the constitution on 21 September 1990, it also did not specify the color of the cedar tree, leading to variations in practice. Traditionally, as long as the essential colors and symbols are present, artistic interpretations are acceptable. Before 1990 the cedar tree on the Lebanese flag was commonly depicted with a brown trunk; similar brown-trunk variants were registered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and on official postcards of United Nations with member state flags. The 1990 amendment specified that the entire cedar tree must be green.

Symbolism

thumb|[[Cedrus libani in the Cedars of God forest]]

The cedar of Lebanon holds a prominent place in history and religious texts. It is mentioned 103 times in the Bible, often symbolizing the glory of strength, majesty, and divine blessing. In Psalms 92:12, it is written, "[t]he righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon", and in Psalms 104:16, "[t]he trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted". The cedar's wood, known for its durability and resistance to pests, was used to build sacred structures, including Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. Its significance extends beyond biblical narratives into ancient Mesopotamian literature, where it plays a pivotal role in the Epic of Gilgamesh as divine wood guarded in a sacred forest. Ancient Egyptians particularly valued Lebanese cedar, using its resin in mummification processes and its wood in shipbuilding and ceremonial barges, as evidenced by cedar planks found near the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The cedar has inspired writers, poets, and political leaders. The French author and statesman Alphonse de Lamartine, marveling at the cedars during his trip to Lebanon in 1832, wrote, "[t]he cedars of Lebanon are the relics of centuries and nature, the most famous natural landmarks in the universe." Similarly, the French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who visited Lebanon in 1935, reflected on the cedar's symbolism in his work ': "[t]he peace is a long-growing tree. We need, as the cedar, to rock its unity." In 1920, during the proclamation of the State of Greater Lebanon, the cedar was described as a symbol of resilience and unity: "[a]n evergreen cedar is like a young nation despite a cruel past. Although oppressed, never conquered, the cedar is its rallying. By the union, it will break all attacks."<!-- Hiding until source accessible -- This sentiment was echoed in the design of the Lebanese flag, which merged the French tricolor with the cedar to reflect Lebanon's ties to France under the mandate. Although the constitution did not specify the cedar's color, most contemporary depictions showed it as green with a brown trunk.

File:Flag of Lebanon (1918-1920).svg| Flag used by Lebanese Maronites in the 19th century, and first raised as a Lebanese flag in 1918 (1918–1920)

File:Flag of Lebanon (1918-1920; variant).svg| () Flag used by Lebanese Maronites in the 19th century, and first raised as a Lebanese flag in 1918 (1918–1920; variant)

File:Flag of Lebanon (Shukri El Khoury's proposal).svg| 's proposed flag featuring red and blue triangles added to honor the French mandate (1918)

File:Flag of Lebanon (1920-1943).svg| Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate (1920–1943)

File:Flag_of_Lebanon_during_French_Mandate_(1920-1943).svg| () Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate (1920–1943; variant)

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Republic of Lebanon (1943–present)

thumb|alt=Emir Majid Arslan kneeling and kissing a flag, with Sabri Hamadeh and other officials standing nearby.|Emir [[Majid Arslan, left, kissing the new flag of Lebanon, and Sabri Hamadeh on the right (1943)]]

During World War II, Vichy French authorities allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria and Lebanon. In response, British troops moved into the region, and by late 1941, the Free French government supported Lebanese independence. Elections were held in 1943, and in November of that year, the newly formed Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the French mandate. In reaction, French authorities briefly imprisoned key government leaders, including President Bechara El Khoury, Prime Minister Riad Al Solh, and several ministers. Under international pressure, France eventually agreed to Lebanon's independence weeks later.

The Lebanese flag emerged during this period of political tension. Accounts of the flag's creation vary, with different figures claiming credit for its design. On 11 November 1943, seven members of parliament managed to meet in the French-occupied Parliament and hastily devised a colored version of the flag, preserving the cedar as a national symbol. The flag was formally introduced into the Lebanese Constitution on 7 December 1943, with its composition specified as three horizontal stripes (red, white, and red) and a cedar tree occupying one-third of the white stripe.

Henri Pharaon, a member of parliament, claimed that he proposed the flag's design. According to Pharaon, the Muslim elected officials initially proposed four colors – green, white, red, and black – based on the pan-Arab colors, while the Christian representatives demanded a single color with the cedar in the center. Drawing on his Austrian connections as a former consul for the Austro-Hungarian Empire and founder of the Austro-Lebanese Friendship Association, Pharaon suggested using the Austrian flag as a model, with its red and white horizontal stripes, and placing a green cedar tree in the center. This proposal was reportedly assisted by Saadi Al Munla and Mohamad Al Fadl. The original drawing of the flag, signed by the seven parliament members, was executed by Al Munla. The seven MPs – , Mohamad Al Fadl, Rachid Baydoun, Sabri Hamadeh, Henri Pharaon, Saadi Al Munla, and Saeb Salam – entered Parliament despite the French blockade, finalized the design with colored pencils, and adopted it as the national flag. Ten days later, Lebanon achieved independence.

Pierre Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, offered a different account. He asserted that his party conceived the flag's design, which was later adopted by the government. According to Gemayel, on the morning of 11 November 1943, he presented a drawing of the new flag to members of parliament and urged them to formally adopt it. Gemayel reportedly consulted Maurice Chehab, director of antiquities of Lebanon, who advised that the flag's design should reflect Lebanon's traditions. Chehab suggested combining the colors red and white, representing the historical conflict between the Qaysi and Yamani factions, with the cedar tree as a unifying national symbol. Gemayel also enlisted Sami Dahdah to draw the new flag, which was then sewn by the wife of Felix Hobeyka.

thumb|A Mother Sewing the Flag in Front of Her Daughter by [[Moustafa Farroukh ( 1950–1951)]]

The Lebanese flag was first raised in Bechamoun on 21 November 1943 at 11:20 pm. In 1979, the Minister of National Education, Boutros Harb, declared 21 November as National Flag Day.

From 1943 to 1990, the cedar tree on the flag was depicted naturalistically with a brown trunk, as seen in versions registered with the WIPO and on official postcards of the United Nations. On 21 September 1990, the Lebanese government standardized the cedar's color to entirely green, replacing the earlier depiction. Discussions at the 16th FIAV meeting in Warsaw suggested that the previous design had become too strongly linked to the Lebanese Forces, a faction from the Lebanese Civil War. The updated, all-green cedar may have been intended as a more inclusive and neutral symbol.

File:Lebanese flag (cropped).JPG|Flag as drawn and approved by the members of the parliament during the declaration of independence (1943)

File:Flag of Lebanon (1943-1990).svg| Flag of Lebanon (1943–1990)

File:Flag of Lebanon, 1943–1990 (WIPO).jpg| Design stored at WIPO (1943–1990)

File:Flag of Lebanon.svg|Flag of Lebanon (1990–present)

File:Flag of Lebanon, 1995 (variant).jpg| Common variant of the flag of Lebanon (1990–present)

File:Flag of Lebanon vertical (1).png| Vertical flag of Lebanon

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Gallery

File:Byblos Castle, 2016 14.jpg|Lebanese flag flying over Byblos Castle, overlooking the city

File:Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces Gen. Joseph K. Aoun Participates in an Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (28155189127).jpg|Flag of Lebanon flown during General Joseph Aoun's 2018 wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

File:DLIFLC Language Day 2012 (7206139888).jpg|Lebanese flags flying in the background, while dancers in Lebanese traditional attire perform in the foreground

File:Lebanese embassy Lazarska 6211v.jpg|The flag of Lebanon flying over the Embassy of Lebanon in Prague

File:Beirut protests 2019 - 1.jpg|Protestors flying Lebanese flags during the 17 October Revolution in Beirut

File:World Youth Day 2008 - Sydney, Australia.jpg|Lebanese celebrating World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney while holding the national flags

File:Iran v Lebanon, 29 March 2022 (Fars) 26.jpg|Football supporters holding flags of Lebanon during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Iran

File:MonaKhalil-MansouriBeach RomanDeckert13082019-009.jpg|An elderly couple, each holding a flag of Lebanon while walking on the beach

Flag of Lebanon

Design

Symbolism

Republic of Lebanon (1943–present)

Gallery

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

External links