View source for Flag of Latvia

{{short description|none}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Latvia
| Article = 
| Image = Flag of Latvia.svg
| Nickname = 
| Morenicks = 
| Use = 110100
| Symbol = {{FIAV|110100}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Equal}}
| Proportion = 1:2
| Adoption = 15 June 1921<br>Restored on 27 February 1990<br>Current standardization on 28 November 2018 (in use since 1 January 2019)
| Design = A [[Carmine (color)|carmine red]] field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag)
| Designer = Ansis Cīrulis
| Nickname2 = 
| Morenicks2 = 
| Design2 = A carmine red field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag)
| Designer2 = 
| Image3 = Latvijas valsts karoga vimpelis.svg
| Noborder3 = yes
| Nickname3 = 
| Morenicks3 = 
| Use3 = Pennant
| Symbol3 = {{FIAV|000100}} {{FIAV|normal}}
| Proportion3 = 5:1
| Adoption3 = 2009
| Design3 = A trapezoidal fabric ribbon corresponding to the colors and color proportions of the State Flag
| Designer3 = 
}}

The [[national flag]] of [[Latvia]] ({{langx|lv|Latvijas karogs}}) is a [[Triband (flag)|triband]] featuring two wide horizontal stripes of red at the top and bottom, separated by a twice narrower white centre stripe. It was used as the national flag after Latvia became an independent country in 1918. After the [[Soviet Union]] invaded and [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|occupied Latvia in 1940]], its use was suppressed by the Soviet government. On 27 February 1990, shortly before Latvia [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|regained independence]], the government re-adopted the traditional red-white-red flag.

Though officially adopted in 1921, the Latvian flag was used in as early as the 13th century, according to the ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle|Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia]]''. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their sovereignty. An alternative interpretation is that a Latgalian leader was wounded in battle, and the sheet on which he was laid on was stained by his blood with only the centre stripe of the sheet being left unstained. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the [[flag of Austria]].

== History ==
The red-white-red Latvian flag is first mentioned in the late medieval ''Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia'' (''Livländische Reimchronik''), which covers the period from 1180 to 1343, and is thus among the oldest flags in the world. The chronicle tells of a battle that took place around 1279, in which ancient [[Latgalians|Latgalian]] tribes from [[Cēsis]] (Wenden), a city in northern modern-day Latvia, went to war, bearing a 'red flag with a white stripe'.<ref>[http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm Livlädische Reimchronik] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215035451/http://www.old.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/hronikas_teksts/09038_10040.vacu.htm |date=2014-12-15 }}): ''Von Wenden was zû Rîge komen / zûr lantwer, als ich hân vernomen,/ ein brûder und wol hundert man:/ den wart daß mêre kunt getân./ die quâmen hovelîchen dar / mit einer banier rôtgevar,/ daß was mit wîße durch gesniten / hûte nâch wendischen siten./ Wenden ist ein burc genant,/ von den die banier wart bekant,/ und ist in Letten lant gelegen,/ dâ die vrowen rîtens pflegen / nâch den siten, als die man./ vor wâr ich ûch daß sagen kan,/ die banier der Letten ist.'' (9219–9233)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flett.htm |title=National Flagge des Lettland|access-date=2003-04-27 |author=Volker Preuß|language=de}}</ref>

A separate popular legend recounts the story of a mortally wounded chief of [[Latgalians]] who had been wrapped in a white sheet. The part of sheet on which he was lying remained white, and the two edges were coloured by his blood. During the next battle, the bloodstained sheet was used as a flag. According to the legend, this time the Latgalian warriors were successful and drove the enemy away. Since then, Latgalian tribes have been using these colours as their symbol.

Inspired by these historical records, several [[Latvian national awakening|Latvian nationalists]] began to use such flags again in the 19th century.<ref name="national-symbols"/><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" /> The first flag with red field and narrow white stripe concept was made by [[Valmiera]] Trade School teacher [[Marianna Strautmane]] (1896–1985) in the second half of 1916, according to a sketch made by her colleague, journalist and refugee activist {{Ill|Jānis Lapiņš|lv|Jānis Lapiņš}} (1885–1941). This bright-red flag featured a yellow sun on the upper-left corner of the flag, and it later flew over the building of the Valmiera Latvian Society during the Vidzeme Land Meeting in March 1917. Preserved by the Lapiņš family during the [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940]] and in exile in the West after 1944, it was ultimately given to the Cēsis Museum in 1997, where today it is on display in [[Cēsis Castle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jānis Lapiņš and the sketch of the first Latvian red - white - red flag |url=https://militaryheritagetourism.info/en/military/stories/view/13?0 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Military Heritage Tourism Latvia-Estonia}}</ref>

[[File:Flag of Latvia (Textile).svg|200px|thumb|Textile version of the Latvian flag.]]
In 1917, a red-white-red flag was used in several events focused on uniting Latvian regions as well as Latvian military formations (e.g. [[Latvian Riflemen]] units, [[Iskolat]] institutions), and the debate about the visual appearance of the Latvian flag was raised. In May, during a meeting of the Latvian Art Promotion Association (Latviešu mākslas veicināšanas biedrība), several proposals were reviewed, finally, a design by artist {{illm|Ansis Cīrulis|lv|Ansis Cīrulis|ru|Цирулис, Ансис}} was accepted. Cīrulis' design was also popularized in postcards printed by photographer [[Jānis Rieksts]].<ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />

During the [[Latvian War of Independence]], the flag saw ever-growing use by the Latvian Armed Forces, government institutions (e.g. it flew from [[Riga Castle]] before and during the Battle of Riga in 1919) and the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Permanent exhibition on the Latvian War of Independence in 1918-1920 — Dd studio |url=https://dd.lv/en/works/detail/ekspozicija-latvijas-valsts-izveidoshana-un-neatkaribas-karsh-1918-1920 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=dd.lv}}</ref> The Latvian national flag, together with the national coat of arms was officially affirmed in this format by a decree of the [[Constitutional Assembly of Latvia]] passed on 15 June 1921.<ref name="lvportals_200636">{{cite web |url=https://lvportals.lv/norises/200636-sarkanbaltsarkanas-latvijas-karoga-krasas-ii-2009 |title=Sarkanbaltsarkanās – Latvijas karoga krāsas (II) |language=lv |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=LV portāls}}</ref><ref name="national-symbols">{{cite web |url=https://www.president.lv/en/national-symbols |title=National symbols |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=President of the Republic of Latvia}}</ref><ref name="fotw-lv-hist" />

===Occupation===
{{main|Flag of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
[[File:Flag of Latvia (Soviet colors).svg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|A variation appeared in anti-Soviet demonstrations.<ref name="fotw-lv-hist">{{cite web |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lv-hist.html |title=Latvia - History of Flag|access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref>]]
During the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet period]] by the [[Soviet Union]] (and briefly during occupation by [[Nazi Germany]]), the red-white-red Latvian flag was rendered unusable from 1940 to 1941 and 1944 to 1991. Any production and public display of the nationalist Latvian flag was considered anti-state crime and punishable by law. The first flag of Soviet Latvia was a red flag with the gold [[hammer and sickle]] in the top-left corner, with the Latin characters LPSR (''Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskā Republika'') above them in gold in a serif font. In 1953, the final version of the flag was adopted. It depicts the Soviet flag with six {{1/3}} blue wavy bands representing the sea on the bottom.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

===Restoration===
The local authorities restored the status of the red-white-red flag as the national flag of Latvia on 15 February 1990,<ref name=Stelpe263>{{Cite book |author=Dzintra Stelpe |title=Lielā Latvijas Enciklopēdija. |language=lv |publisher=Zvaigzne ABC |location=Riga |page=263 |year=2009 |isbn=9789984408095 |oclc=644036298}}</ref> one and half years before the formal recognition of Latvian independence by the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. 
{{Clear|left}}

== Design ==
[[File:Flag of Latvia (colour shade comparison).svg|thumb|A comparison of the physical and digital versions of the flag]]
According to Latvian law, ''The Latvian national flag is [[Carmine (color)|carmine red]] with a white horizontal stripe.'' ({{Langx|lv|tumši sarkana (karmīnsarkans)}}).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvijas valsts karoga likums |trans-title=Law on the National Flag of Latvia|date = 17 November 2009|language = lv|publisher = The Saeima (legislature) of Latvia|url = http://www.saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101127103108/http://saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums|archive-date = 27 November 2010|url-status = live|quote=Latvijas valsts karogs ir karmīnsarkans ar baltu horizontālu svītru.|trans-quote=The Latvian national flag is carmine red with a white horizontal stripe.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Latvijas valsts karoga likums |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/200642-latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=LIKUMI.LV |language=lv}}</ref> The colour on the flag is sometimes referred to as ''Latvian red''. The red colour of the Latvian flag is a particularly dark shade, which is composed of [[brown]] and [[purple]]. The flag's colour proportions are 2:1:2 (the upper and lower red bands each being twice as wide as the central white band), and the ratio of the height of the flag to its width is fixed at 1:2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National symbols {{!}} Valsts prezidenta kanceleja |url=https://www.president.lv/en/national-symbols |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=www.president.lv |language=en}}</ref>

On 11 April 1995, the State Heraldic Commission have once chosen Pantone 1807 C for red colour, this was later replaced by Pantone 201 C on 21 April 2009. On 1 May 2010, the Cabinet of Ministers issued the ''Procedures for the Application of the Law on the National Flag'', which standardized Pantone 19-1629 TPX or 19-1629 TC for red field; an amendment made on 27 November 2018, which came into force 1 January 2019, stating that non-fabric flags, as well as representations produced using other techniques (including digital representations), would use Pantone 201 C, whilst physical flags would continue using 19-1629 TPX/TC.<ref name="DigitalFlag">{{Cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/209092-procedures-for-the-application-of-the-law-on-the-national-flag-of-latvia |title=Procedures for the Application of the Law on the National Flag of Latvia |work=[[Government of Latvia]] |date=2018-11-28 |access-date=2024-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvia|url = https://www.fotw.info/flags/lv.html |website=[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]] |access-date=2024-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Valsts prezidenta Valsts heraldikas komisija: Par valsts karoga un ģerboņu krāsām|url = https://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=190841|website=Latvijas Vēstnesis|date=2009-04-21|access-date= 2024-05-24|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160312132421/https://www.vestnesis.lv/index.php?menu=doc&id=190841|archive-date = 2016-03-12|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Latvijas valsts karogs un ģerboņi|url = http://www.km.gov.lv/UI/main.asp?id=12781|publisher = Ministry of Culture of Latvia|access-date = 2024-06-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081113222919/http://www.km.gov.lv/UI/main.asp?id=12781|archive-date = 2008-11-13|url-status = dead}}</ref>

{| class = "wikitable"
|+Flag colors
! colspan="4" | Proportions and colours of the flag in Pantone<br />[[File:Flag of Latvia (construction sheet).svg|320px]]
|-
!
! style = "background-color:#FFFFFF"|White
! style = "background-color:#9D2235;color:white"|Red (Digital)
! style = "background-color:#77353D;color:white"|Red (Textile)
|-
| [[Pantone]]
| White
| 201 C<ref name="DigitalFlag"/> 
| 19-1629 TPX or TC 
|-
| [[RGB]]
| Red: 255<br/>Green: 255<br/>Blue: 255<br/>[[Web colors|Hex]]: #FFFFFF
| Red: 157<br/>Green: 34<br/>Blue: 53<br/>[[Web colors|Hex]]: #9D2235
| Red: 119<br/>Green: 53<br/>Blue: 61<br/>[[Web colors|Hex]]: #77353D
|-
|[[CMYK]]
| Cyan: 0%<br/>Magenta: 0%<br/>Yellow: 0%<br/>Black: 0%
| Cyan: 40%<br/>Magenta: 100%<br/>Yellow: 90%<br/>Black: 10%
| Cyan: 40%<br/>Magenta: 100%<br/>Yellow: 90%<br/>Black: 10%
|}

== Display of the flag ==
[[File:Flag of Latvia photo.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Flagpole]]
Latvian law states that the flag and [[national colours]] can be displayed and used as an ornament if proper respect to the flag is guaranteed. Destruction, disrespectful treatment or incorrect display of the flag is punishable by law.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

The flag shall be placed at least {{convert|2.5|m}} above the ground and properly secured to the flagstaff. The flagstaff shall be longer than the longest side of the flag, straight, painted white, and preferably made of wood. The [[finial]] at the tip of the flagstaff shall be wider than the flagstaff. When the flag is not displayed continuously, it shall be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. If flown for a festival or funeral, it shall be raised before and lowered after the end of the occasion.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

If the flag is flown from a flagpole in mourning, it shall be raised to half-staff. If fixed to a flagstaff, a black ribbon whose width is {{frac|20}} the width of the flag shall be secured to the flagstaff above the flag; the ribbon shall be of sufficient length to span the width of the flag.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

== Flag days ==
* 25 March (in mourning)&nbsp;— In memory of victims of [[communist genocide]]
* 1 May&nbsp;— Constitution Day, Labour Day
* 4 May&nbsp;— Restoration of Independence (1990)
* 14 June (in mourning)&nbsp;— In memory of victims of communist genocide
* 17 June (in mourning)&nbsp;— Beginning of the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet occupation]] in Latvia
* 4 July (in mourning)&nbsp;— In memory of victims of the [[Holocaust]] (''See: [[The Holocaust in Latvia]]'')
* 11 November&nbsp;— [[Lāčplēsis#L.C4.81.C4.8Dpl.C4.93sis Day|Lāčplēsis Day]]
* 18 November&nbsp;— [[Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia|Independence Day]] (1918)
* First Sunday in December (in mourning)&nbsp;— In memory of victims of communist genocide

== Official standards ==
{{Gallery|mode=nolines|width=180|height=120
|File:Flag of the President of Latvia.svg|Presidential standard of Latvia
|File:Flag of the Prime Minister of Latvia.svg|Standard of the prime minister of Latvia
|File:Flag of the Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia.svg|Standard of the speaker of the Saeima of Latvia
|File:Flag of the Minister of Defence of Latvia.svg|Standard of the minister of defence of Latvia
}}
=== Presidential standard of Latvia ===
[[File:Latvian presidential standard at the presidential chancellery.JPG|thumb|200px|Latvian presidential standard at the presidential chancellery, [[House of the Blackheads (Riga)|House of the Blackheads]].]]
The standard of the president is white with the rectangular cross in the colour proportions of the national flag. The centre of the cross covered a white rectangular panel bearing the [[coat of arms of Latvia]]. The height of the coat of arms is {{frac|3}} of the width of the Standard, the centre of the sun depicted on the shield of the coat of arms is in the centre of the Standard. The proportion between the width of the national colours and that of the Standard is 1:5. The proportion between the length and width of the Standard is 3:2.

=== Prime Ministerial standard of Latvia ===

The standard of the [[Prime Minister of Latvia|prime minister]] is white with the symmetric cross in the colour proportions of the national flag. In top left canton of the flag, the [[Coat of arms of Latvia|coat of arms]] is placed. The height of coat of arms is {{frac|5|6}} of the height of canton, and the sun of coat of arms is in the centre of the canton. The proportion between the width of the national colours and that of the Banner is 1:5. The proportion between the length and width of the Banner is 3:2.

=== Standard of the speaker of the Saeima ===
The standard of the [[speaker of the Saeima]] is white with the symmetric cross in the colour proportions of the national flag. In top right canton of the flag the [[Coat of arms of Latvia|coat of arms]] is placed. The height of the coat of arms is {{frac|5|6}} of the height of the canton; the sun of coat of arms is in the centre of the canton. The proportion between the width of the national colours and that of the Banner is 1:5. The proportion between the length and width of the Banner is 3:2.
<!-- Please maintain use of UK English spelling and grammar in this article. -->

=== Standard of the minister of defence of Latvia ===
The flag of the [[Minister of Defence of Latvia|defence minister]] is white with the symmetric cross in the colour proportions of the national flag. In top left canton of the flag the soldier insignia is placed. The height of insignia is {{frac|3|5}} of the height of canton. The proportion between the width of the national colours and that of the Banner is 1:5. The proportion between the length and width of the Banner is 3:2.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Heraldry|Latvia}}
* [[List of flags of Latvia]]
* [[Coat of arms of Latvia]]
* [[Dievs, sveti Latviju|National Anthem of Latvia]]

== References ==
{{reflist|}}
* {{Cite web|title=Statute of 1994 regarding the National Flag of Latvia|url=http://www.saeima.lv/simbolika/karogs.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302201528/http://www.saeima.lv/simbolika/karogs.htm|archive-date=2 March 2009|url-status=dead|language=lv}}
* {{Cite web|title=Statute of 2009 regarding the National Flag of Latvia|url=http://www.saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127103108/http://saeima.lv/lv/par-saeimu/simbolika/latvijas-valsts-karoga-likums|archive-date=27 November 2010|url-status=live|language=lv}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110516074746/http://www.historia.lv/alfabets/A/AT/atskanu_hronika/atskanu_hronika.htm The Rhyme Chronicle of Livonia (Ditleb's von Alnpeke Livländische Reimchronik)] {{in lang|lv|de|ru}}
* [http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=70511&menu_body=KDOC Law regarding Official standards] {{in lang|lv}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|National flag of Latvia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120209035432/http://li.lv/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=62 The Latvian Flag fact sheet at the Latvian Institute Web site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312182730/http://www.navy.mil.lv/eng/karogi/karogvimpengl.htm Flags and pendants of Latvian Naval Forces]

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{{Latvia topics}}
{{Flag of Europe}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Latvia, Flag of}}
[[Category:Flags of Latvia| ]]
[[Category:National symbols of Latvia|Flag]]
[[Category:1918 establishments in Latvia|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Red and white flags]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1918]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1990]]
[[Category:Flags with rectangular symmetry]]