The Flag of Greece

The precise origins of the Greek flag's design are somewhat unclear, with various interpretations linked to its symbolism and colors. The flag, in its current form, was officially adopted on December 22, 1978. However, the concept of using blue and white dates back to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Greek flag underwent several modifications, particularly in the shade of blue and the arrangement of the stripes. The cross symbolizes Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the predominant religion of Greece, while the nine stripes are said to represent the syllables of the phrase 'Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος' ('Freedom or Death'), a motto associated with the Greek War of Independence. Other interpretations suggest the stripes symbolize the nine muses from Greek mythology. The blue and white colors are often thought to represent the Greek seas and skies, combined with the ideals of freedom and democracy.