View source for Flag of Grenada

{{good article}}
{{short description|National flag}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name        = Grenada
| Image       = Flag of Grenada.svg
| Use         = 111000
| Symbol      = {{FIAV|111000}} {{FIAV|normal}}
| Proportion  = 3:5
| Adoption    = {{start date and age|1974|02|07|df=y}}
| Design      = A rectangle divided diagonally into two yellow triangles at the top and bottom and two green triangles at the hoist and fly, surrounded by a red border [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] with six [[five-pointed star|five pointed]] yellow stars, another five-pointed yellow star on a red disc at the centre, and a nutmeg at the hoist.
| Designer    = [[Anthony C. George]]
}}

The '''flag of Grenada''' consists of two yellow triangles at the top and bottom and two green triangles at the [[Glossary of vexillology#Flag elements|hoist and fly]].  These are surrounded by a red border [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] with six [[five-pointed star|five-pointed]] yellow stars – three at the top centre and three at the bottom centre – along with an additional star on a red disc at the centre and a [[nutmeg]] at the hoist triangle.  Adopted in 1974 to replace the temporary design used since the islands became an [[West Indies Associated States|Associated State]] of the United Kingdom, it has been the flag of [[Grenada]] since the country gained independence that year.   The representation of a nutmeg is symbolic of the islands' primary export, and was the one feature from the previous flag that was preserved.

==History==
Sovereignty over [[Grenada]] changed hands between the French and the British throughout the 18th century.  This continued until 1783, when the [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Peace of Paris]] saw [[Kingdom of France|France]] permanently relinquish the island to the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|United Kingdom]].<ref name=EBhist>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Eric V.B.|last=Britter|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Grenada – History|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Grenada/Transportation#ref54643|date=27 March 2020|access-date=9 July 2020|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.}}</ref><ref name=LP>{{cite web|title=History in Grenada|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/grenada/background/history/a/nar/b1b386d1-5bc4-4ccc-a907-75d7f0ee09b7/358047|access-date=9 July 2020|publisher=Lonely Planet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709234155/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/grenada/background/history/a/nar/b1b386d1-5bc4-4ccc-a907-75d7f0ee09b7/358047|archive-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>  It eventually became a [[crown colony]] within the latter's [[British Empire|colonial empire]] in 1877.<ref name=LP/>  The territory joined the [[West Indies Federation]] in 1958 and was a member state until 1962.  On 3 March 1967, five years after the federation was dissolved, Grenada became an [[West Indies Associated States|Associated State]].<ref name=EBhist/>  This gave Grenada full control over domestic matters, while Britain retained responsibility for the territory's [[Foreign policy|foreign affairs]] and [[National security|defence]].  A new flag for the territory was adopted, though this was only intended to be a temporary design.  It consisted of a horizontal [[Tricolour (flag)|tricolour]] of blue, yellow, and green bands, [[Charge (heraldry)|charged]] with a [[nutmeg]] at the centre.<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Whitney|last=Smith|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Flag of Grenada|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Grenada|date=27 July 2011|access-date=3 July 2020|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.}}</ref>

Negotiations for independence commenced after the [[Grenada United Labour Party]] won the most seats in the [[1967 Grenadian general election|election in August 1967]],<ref name=EBhist/> having campaigned in favour of sovereignty.<ref name=LP/><ref name="BBC profile">{{cite news|title=Grenada country profile|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19598301|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=12 March 2018|access-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>  A search for a national flag began soon after.<ref name=EB/>  The new design was created by [[Anthony C. George]], a native Grenadian from [[Soubise, Grenada|Soubise]] in [[Saint Andrew Parish, Grenada|Saint Andrew Parish]].<ref name=gov>{{cite news|title=National Symbols of Grenada – National Flag|url=http://www.gov.gd/national-symbols-grenada#flag|access-date=9 July 2020|publisher=Government of Grenada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624214609/http://www.gov.gd/national-symbols-grenada|archive-date=24 June 2020}}</ref>  It eschewed the commonly used arrangement of a horizontal or vertical tricolour, while maintaining the nutmeg symbol from the previous flag.  The new flag was hoisted at midnight on 7 February 1974, the day Grenada became an independent country, and was adopted by the government the same day.<ref name=EB/><ref name=gov/>

==Design==
The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings.  The green epitomises the islands' vegetation and agriculture,<ref name=DK>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8gcL2PBOVIC&pg=PA39|title=Complete Flags of the World|publisher=Penguin|date=6 January 2009|last=Kindersley Ltd.|first=Dorling|page=39|isbn=9780756654863}}</ref><ref name=CIA>{{cite web|title=Grenada|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/grenada/|date=8 June 2020|access-date=3 July 2020|work=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA}}</ref> while the yellow evokes the sun,<ref name=EB/><ref name=CIA/> as well as the warmth and wisdom of Grenadians.<ref name=DK/>  The red represents harmony, unity,<ref name=EB/> courage,<ref name=CIA/> and vitality.<ref name=DK/>  

The yellow stars on the red border symbolise the country's parishes, while the yellow star on the red disc at the centre signifies its two sister islands, [[Carriacou and Petite Martinique]] which are counted as the country’s seventh parish. The symbol of a nutmeg at the hoist alludes to one of the primary agricultural exports of the islands.<ref name=EB/><ref name=CIA/>  The country is the second-largest producer of nutmeg in the world, trailing only [[Indonesia]].<ref name="BBC profile"/>  Consequently, Grenada has acquired the nicknames of "Isle of Spice"<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Eric V.B.|last=Britter|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Grenada|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Grenada|date=27 March 2020|access-date=3 July 2020|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.}}</ref> and "Spice Island".<ref name="BBC profile"/><ref name=DK/>

==Variants==
The [[civil ensign]] (for merchant ships) is identical in design to the national flag, but has an [[List of aspect ratios of national flags|aspect ratio]] of 1:2 (instead of 3:5).<ref name=gov/><ref name=DK/> The [[naval ensign]] is based on the British [[White Ensign|white ensign]], a red cross on a white field, with the addition of the national flag in the canton.<ref>{{cite web|title=Flag of Grenada – A Brief History|url=https://www.flagmakers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Flag-of-Grenada-A-Brief-History-Download.pdf|access-date=9 July 2020|work=Flagmakers|publisher=Specialised Canvas Services Ltd}}</ref> The naval ensign is used by the [[Royal Grenada Coast Guard]].

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Variant flags of Grenada
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Variant flag
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Usage
|-
|[[File:Civil Ensign of Grenada.svg|150px]]
|[[Civil ensign]]
|-
|[[File:Naval Ensign of Grenada.svg|150px]]
|[[Naval Ensign]]
|}

==Protocol==
Advice regarding [[Flag protocol|flag etiquette]] is listed on the official website of the government,<ref name=gov/> as well as on the websites of the [[Foreign relations of Grenada|country's embassies]].<ref name="Embassy in Russia">{{cite web|title=National Flag of Grenada|url=https://www.grenadaembassy.ru/flag-grenada/|access-date=9 July 2020|work=Embassy of Grenada in the Russian Federation|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Grenada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709221229/https://www.grenadaembassy.ru/flag-grenada/|archive-date=9 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="Embassy in US">{{cite web|title=Significance of the Flag of Grenada|url=http://www.grenadaembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Significance-of-Flag-of-Grenada.pdf|date=July 2010|access-date=9 July 2020|work=Embassy of Grenada in the United States|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Grenada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709221851/http://www.grenadaembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Significance-of-Flag-of-Grenada.pdf|archive-date=9 July 2020}}</ref>  When displayed together with the flags of other sovereign nations, the foreign flag should not be flown on top of or to the right (i.e. observer's left) of the Grenadian flag.  The only exception to this recommendation is at foreign [[diplomatic mission]]s on the island, which is also the only place where a foreign flag can be flown without the flag of Grenada accompanying it.  When displayed together with domestic flags, the national flag has to be situated at the centre and be the tallest one of the group.  The Grenadian flag should not be smaller in size compared to other flags being flown adjacent to it.  When carried in a procession, it should be located on the marching right (in a single file) or at the front of the centre (if there is more than one line).<ref name="Embassy in Russia"/><ref name="Embassy in US"/>

The guidelines also state that the flag is not to touch the ground, nor should it be [[Flag dipping|dipped]] towards an individual or an object.  It has to be displayed either in or near every [[polling place]] when [[elections in Grenada]] are held.  The national flag should be flown by [[merchant ship]]s that are [[Ship registration|registered]] in the country, but should not be placed on top of motor vehicles (other than by the [[Royal Grenada Police Force|police force]] and during state events).  It is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without prior approval from the government.  When it becomes damaged and is no longer fit to be publicly displayed, it is permissible to dispose of the national flag via burning.<ref name="Embassy in Russia"/><ref name="Embassy in US"/>

==Historical flags==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Historical flags of [[Grenada]]
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Historical flag
!scope="col"|Duration
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|Description
|-
|[[File:Flag of Grenada (1875-1903).svg|border|150px]]
|1875–1903
|A [[Blue Ensign]] [[Defacement (flag)|defaced]] with the first [[Coat of arms of Grenada|colonial badge of Grenada]].
|-
|[[File:Flag of Grenada (1903–1967).svg|border|150px]]
|1903–1967
|A Blue Ensign defaced with the second [[Coat of arms of Grenada|colonial badge of Grenada]].
|-
|[[File:Flag of Grenada (1967–1974).svg|border|150px]]
|1967–1974
|A horizontal [[Tricolour (flag)|tricolour]] of blue, yellow, and green bands, with a sprig of [[nutmeg]] on a white oval at the centre.
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Grenadian flags]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://flagsbylouis.blogspot.com A flag database featuring the Grenada flag]
*{{FOTW|id=gd|title=Grenada}}
*[http://www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com/page14.html The Grenada National Flag]

{{National Symbols of Grenada}}
{{Flags of North America}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grenada, Flag of}}
[[Category:National symbols of Grenada|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1974]]
[[Category:Flags with green, red and yellow]]
[[Category:Flags with stars]]