the word explorer

The flag of Nepal is the only flag in the world that is neither a square nor a rectangle. (Picture from http://www.facts.co)

The Olympic flag consists of five interlocking rings on a white background. (Photo from http://www.mapsofworld.com)

The Japanese flag is beautiful in its simplicity. (Picture from http://www.reference.com)

The Olympics are a great time to engage in vexillology. (Photo from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca)

Bhutan has one of the most interesting flags in the world.(©Christopher J. Fynn / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Rio Olympics are well underway, making this a great time to engage in vexillology.

Vexillology is the study of flags. It originates from the Latin word vexillum, which means flag, and contains the Greek suffix -logy, which means study of.

There are 206 countries, each with their own unique flag, participating in this year’s Olympics. Some particularly fascinating flags belong to the countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and Japan. Bhutan’s flag depicts the national symbol of the country, Druk, the Thunder Dragon.  Nepal’s flag is the only flag in the world that is not rectangular or square; it consists of two pennants stacked on each other, which represent the peaks of the Himalayan mountains. Japan’s flag is beautiful in its simplicity – a solitary red disc, symbolizing the sun, on a white background.

The Olympic flag itself is quite interesting. It depicts five colorful rings, each of which represents a continent. The interlocking rings represent the unity of the continents and the meeting of athletes from all over the world.

Are any of you vexillophiles? If so, which flags are your favorite?