Flag of Kiribati

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox flag

The flag of Kiribati (Template:Lang) is red in the upper half with a gold frigatebird (Fregata minor, in Gilbertese: te eitei) flying over a gold rising sun (otintaai), and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean and the three archipelagoes (Gilbert, Phoenix and Line Islands). The 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (former Ocean Island).

The yellow frigatebird symbolises command over the sea, freedom, and dance patterns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The blue and white wavy bands represent the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds Kiribati, and the sun refers to Kiribati's position astride the Equator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The flag is derived from a badge designed by Sir Arthur Grimble in 1931 for the flag of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands British colony and granted in 1937.

Official description

Following the schedule 2 (section 8) of the National Identity Act of 1989, the official description is this one:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

"The bird is a frigate bird which represents power, freedom and Kiribati cultural dance patterns".
"The rising sun is the tropical sun as Kiribati lies astride the Equator".
"The sea is the Pacific Ocean which surrounds Kiribati".

History

File:Kiribati students (7750104314) (2).jpg

Flag of Kiribati

Kiribati's flag is an armorial banner, a flag having a design corresponding exactly to that of the shield in the coat of arms, the former badge of the flag of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In a letter on 15 August 1892 to the Western Pacific High Commissioner, Arthur Grimble has written (concerning his badge proposal):

"Sea. Represents the space of the ocean in which the colony is isolated".
"Sun. The islands lie close to the 180 degree meridian. Sun is either rising or setting".
"Bird. Frigate bird (Fregat Aquilla (sic)) symbolises power, poise and freedom. To the natives it is a sign of sovereignty and kingly birth, and highly regarded as such".

The coat of arms dates was then granted by the College of Arms in May 1937 when it was officially granted to the colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The shield was incorporated into the centre of the fly half of a British Blue Ensign as the state ensign of the colony.

A competition was held to design a new flag in the run-up to national independence, and a design based on the colonial coat of arms was submitted to the College of Arms, which initially decided to modify the submission. Both the golden frigatebird and the sun were to be enlarged, whereas the widths of the waves was to be decreased. The locals insisted on the original design. The new flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations in the capital, Tarawa, on 12 July 1979.<ref name="Metcalf 2008 Flags">Template:Cite book</ref>