Lady Whispers: Kuwaiti Basics (1): Kuwait Flag

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Kuwaiti Basics (1): Kuwait Flag

Today is the national day of my beloved country Kuwait. I would like to say that I spent many years in my life in different countries around this world. I`ve seen a lot, experienced a lot, but wherever I go I miss my country. It is where I belong to and who I am. Kuwait is my identity and my self being. I was born and raised there and I have never found better place to enfold my body when I die. No matter what the distance is between us, Kuwait is always in my heart and mind. And I pray to Allah every day to save this country from all evil in this world.
I thought today is a good occasion to talk about Kuwait`s flag and the regulations to deal with it as I notices that many people don`t know many of these regulations and I am one of them.

Kuwait Flag:

The colors of the flag were inspired from a poem for " Safie Al-deen Al-Hali" in which he meant:

White are our deeds.
Black are our battles.
Green are our lands.
Red are our swords.

The flag itself is rectangular in shape with its length equal to twice the width, decided horizontally into three equal colors, green on top, then white and then red. There is a black trapezoid on the side of the pole. Its base is as long as the width of the flag and extends to quarter of the length of the flag.
The flag was first hoisted in 24th of November 1961 after Kuwait independance. On 14th of May1963 when Kuwait joined the united nations organization, sheikh Subah Al-Ahmad Al-Subah who was the minister of external affairs in that time hoisted the flag in front of the building.

Regulations to deal with Kuwait flag:

When showing the flag in a vertical way, black should be on top and green should be to the right.
When hoisting Kuwait flag beside another flag, Kuwait flag should be to the right (left hand of the observer).
When flying the flag, it should be hoisted to the top of the pole, then flied half way, the hoisted to top again before flying it at the end. The flag fly is only decided by Kuwait amir.
When displaying other local flags (sport teams, centers.. etc), Kuwait flag should be on top. When the other flags are displayed from other poles, Kuwait flag should be hoisted first, then the rest of the flags. No flag should be hoisted above Kuwait flag or to its right side.
When shrouding with Kuwait flag, the black color should cover the head and the green should be to the right of the observer. The flag should not touch the ground or get into the grave.
When displaying two flags of two countries, each flag should be hoisted on a separate pole of the same hight. Both flags should be the same size. The international regulations prohibit hoisting one flag of one country over another flag of another country while they are in peace.
When displaying Kuwait flag in a public building, it should be displayed in a place that is clear to the public. When displaying it on a podium, it should be to the right of the speaker. It there is another flag it should be placed to his left side.
When displaying the flag on the car, the pole should be fixed to the body of the car or to the right of the bumper.
When displaying Kuwait flag on the window, the black color should be on the pole side and the green should be on top (for the observer)

It was nice of the team that was guided by Mr. Abdul-Rahman Shaikhan Al-Farsi to share in Portsmouth Kite Festival with the largest flag in the world. It was Kuwait flag. That was in 29th of August 2004. The kite flew for four hours. It gained the recored in that day. The flag was manufactured in New Zealand and it took 750 hours of work. It is of 1050 square kilometers, 25 meters length and 42 meters width. It weighs 180 kilograms. It costed 75000 New Zealand dollars which is equal to 12000 Kuwaiti dinars. Yes, I know, Kuwait flag can`t be valued...

At the end.. I would like to dedicate all my work and efforts to the country of the sun.. Kuwait...