Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Use of flags and banners

Flags are rectangular piece of cloth hoisted on a pole in front of offices or buildings. The fabric has specific symbol or design that is used to depict a nation. Flags are used for conveying messages, advertising something or for simply decorative purposes. Flags were earlier used in battle grounds to indicate one’s team and country and for communication purposes. The study of flags is called as vexilology meaning flag or banner in latin language. Certain flags have color schemes which are used as devices for signaling or as a decorative piece. Government offices have flags hoisted in front of the building depicting the nation’s flag or political party flag.

Flags were extensively used in ships to portray the nationality of their country in earlier days. Gradually, they have become present day national flags and maritime flags. They were used as a means of communication in the sea. There are many types of flags such as national flags, civil flags, war flags, vertical flags, horizontal flags, international flags, religious flags, linguistic flags, political flags, sports flags, swimming flags, railway flags etc.





Religious flags are used to represent a religion, a saint, a pope or a great person. Sports flag is used for signaling some message or to represent a country or nation. Flags in a football match are used to indicate foul play in the game. In motor racing flags are used as a communication tool to communicate with the drivers. Flags are used in yachting to communicate information to the boat racers. It is also used by the racers to express distress or protest and by the race committee to express change of course or false start. Flags are used by fans to express their support to the players. Flags are used in the beaches to indicate whether it is safe for swimming in the sea, to indicate rough sea, high tides, low tides, sharks, tsunami, hurricane etc. Color flags in railways are used to communicate signals to the train. Nowadays, color flags are replaced by lights.

Flags are tied to poles and are known as flagpoles or flag staff. It is usually made of metal or wood. The pole must be long enough to tie the flag in a cord that runs over a pulley at the top and the other end of the cord is tied at the bottom. Flag is fixed at one end of the cord and raised by pulling the other end of the cord. Flag hoisting refers to raising of the flag on a flagpole. The raising or lowering of a national flag is done based on ceremonies and it is different for each country.

Banners are long piece of cloth bearing a slogan, a symbol or a message. It can be used in public demonstration or a procession. Banners are used in advertisements to publicize a message, product or for selling a product. These are all marketing techniques adopted to have a better reach of a product, message or organization. Political parties use banners and flags for their party meetings and rallies. It can be used to express some message or to indicate the presence of a group or organization. Web banners are popular these days and they are used to place advertisements in the World Wide Web. One can place an ad in the internet and promote one’s business far and wide.