Valentine Flags

Flag-like symbols are known to have been used by ancient cultures but there is no common consensus as to where flags as we know them today actually originated. Some say that flags originated along with kites in China while others claim that the Roman Empire was its originator. It is however commonly agreed that the first use of flags were for military purposes in battle or in military parades. During the Middle Ages, flags were used in Europe to identify knights, in Japan to identify samurai and in China to identify generals of the imperial army. Flags became a way of identifying not just nationalities during battle but also individual military units and they subsequently became substantial trophies to capture and defend. Because flag bearers were in grave danger, flags were withdrawn from battlefields during World War I and every battlefield thereafter.

Beginning with Christopher Columbus and his ships that carried and flew their flags of origin, all ships are required by law to fly flags that designate their nationalities.

So what is a flag? A flag (also known as an ensign, a standard, a banner or a pennant) is made of a piece of cloth that varies in size, shape, color and design that often carries an emblem of significance. A flag is usually attached at one of its edges to a pole, a mast or a cord and is used as an identifying symbol of a nation, a state, a political party, an organization or a culture. Flying or displaying a flag is a way of announcing a presence, attracting attention, marking a location, signaling a warning, proclaiming an identification, and communicating a message. Flags can also be used as colorful objects for decorative purposes during holidays, ceremonies, celebrations and other special events. Therefore it is not unusual to see Valentine flags displayed on flagpoles around your neighborhood and elsewhere during the Saint Valentine’s Day season.

Welcome your special Valentine home from the office with a Valentine flag. You can find Valentine flags in countless websites on the Internet or at your local stores during the Saint Valentine Day season.

- You will find dozens and dozens of high quality appliquéd and embroidered Valentine flags in beautifully colorful double-sided and quilted Valentine designs that appear to be three dimensional at http://www.united-states-flag.com/valentinesday.html.
- You can find a huge variety of very attractive screen printed decorative Valentine flags at extremely good prices at http://www.flagsforyou.com/valentines-day-flags-c-9_42.html?gclid=CMLQvomKgJECFRk0awodSEJNGg.
- At http://www.inthewindflags.net/valentineflags.htm you will find a good selection of Valentine flags from a wide range of manufacturers at surprisingly low prices.

Now that I have introduced you to a few websites from which you can order your Valentine flags, I will suggest that you might want to consider making one yourself. I assure you that it is easier than you might think. The materials you will need are:

> Red fabric: a standard size flag that is three feet by five feet you will need two yards of a sixty inch fabric. Of course, you can choose to make a smaller flag in which case you will need less fabric. You will also need smaller pieces of fabric in white and pink.
> Sharp fabric scissors.
> Sewing thread.
> Carbon or dressmakers marking paper that you can purchase at the fabric counter.
> Pins.
> Pencil or a ball-point pen.
> A sewing machine with a zigzag feature.

Instructions:

> Cut out a heart on paper that will accommodate your Valentine flag size.
> Print out a cupid or lovebirds in a size that will fit nicely within the heart that you have cut out.
> Hem all four edges of your red fabric that will become the background of your flag.
> Fold one of the shorter edges about an inch and stitch it. You have just created a pocket for the pole.
> Transfer your heart design onto the white fabric and, using a zigzag stitch, sew it onto your red flag.
> Transfer your cupid or lovebirds onto the pink fabric and, using a zigzag stitch, sew it onto the white heart.

Good job! You have just created your own Valentine flag and as a special bonus I will share a few interesting facts about flags:
- The study of flags is known as vexillology which stems from vexillum which means flag or banner in Latin.
- The oldest state flag still in use today is the flag of Demark which dates back to the thirteenth century.
- The largest flag in the world, made of a 202,823.55 square foot cloth weighing 5.2 metric tons, is the flag of Israel.

Posted in Gift Ideas