View source for Flag of Lithuania

{{Short description|none}}
{{for|flags of Lithuania|List of flags of Lithuania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox flag
| Name = Republic of Lithuania
| Article = 
| Image = Flag of Lithuania.svg
| Use = 111100
| Symbol = {{FIAV|111100}} {{FIAV|normal}} {{FIAV|Equal}} {{IFIS|Vertical normal}}
| Proportion = 3:5
| Adoption = 25 April 1918 (first adoption)<br />18 November 1988 (restored in 1:2 ratio)<br />8 July 2004 (current version)
| Design = A horizontal [[triband (flag)|triband]] of yellow, green and red
| Designer = {{ubl|[[Jonas Basanavičius]]|[[Tadas Daugirdas]]|[[Antanas Žmuidzinavičius]]}}
| Image2 = Flag of Lithuania (state).svg
| Imagetext2 = State flag of Lithuania
| Use2 = [[Naval jack]] and [[State flag|historical state flag]]
| Symbol2 = 
| Proportion2 = 3:5
| Adoption2 = 2004; first documented use in 1410
| Design2 = A red flag with the {{lang|lt|[[Coat of arms of Lithuania|Vytis]]}} on the center
}}
The [[national flag]] of [[Lithuania]] ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos vėliava}}) consists of a horizontal [[Triband (flag)|tricolour]] of yellow, green, and red. It was adopted on 25 April 1918 during Lithuania's first period of independence (1918–1940), which ceased with the occupation first by the [[Soviet Union]], and then by [[Nazi Germany]] (1941–1944). During the post-World War II Soviet occupation, from 1945 until 1988, the [[Flag of the Lithuanian SSR]] consisted first of a generic red [[Flag of the Soviet Union|Soviet flag]] with the name of the republic, in 1953 that was changed to the red flag with white and green bands at the bottom.

The flag was then re-adopted on 18 November 1988, about 1.5 years before the [[Act of March 11|re-establishment of Lithuania's independence]] and almost three years before the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]]. The last alteration to the current flag occurred in 2004, when the [[aspect ratio]] changed from 1:2 to 3:5.

==History==
[[File:Alex K Grundwald flags 1410-03.svg|thumb|{{FIAV|reconstructed}} Battle flag with the [[Vytis]], 1410, reconstruction]]
[[File:Flag of Lithuania (1918–1940).svg|thumb|{{FIAV|historical}} National flag (1918–1940)]]

===Historical state flag===
The earliest known flags with a Lithuanian identity were recorded in the 15th-century ''[[Banderia Prutenorum]]'', written by [[Jan Długosz]]. At the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410, two distinct flags were present. The majority of the 40 regiments carried a red banner depicting a mounted knight in pursuit. This flag, known as the ''[[Vytis]]'', would eventually be used as the Lithuanian war flag, and again in 2004 as the state flag. The remaining regiments carried a red banner displaying the [[Columns of Gediminas]]. Those that bore the Vytis were part of the [[Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army|Grand Ducal Lithuanian army]], while those who bore the Columns of Gediminas were from [[Lithuanian nobility]]. Until the end of the 18th century, when it [[Partitions of Poland|was annexed by the Russian Empire]], the Grand Duchy of Lithuania used the Vytis as its flag.<ref name="history">[http://www3.lrs.lt/home/w5_viewer/statiniai/seimu_istorija/w5_show-p_r=4056&p_d=49324&p_k=2.html Seimas of Lithuania – History of the National Flag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610185318/http://www3.lrs.lt/home/w5_viewer/statiniai/seimu_istorija/w5_show-p_r%3D4056%26p_d%3D49324%26p_k%3D2.html |date=10 June 2020 }}. Retrieved 15 December 2006</ref>

===Creation of modern flag===
[[File:Vilnius Conference 1917.jpg|thumb|Flag used by participants of the [[Vilnius Conference]] in 1917]]
The birth of the yellow, green, and red tricolour occurred during a drive by other European republics to change their flags. One example that gave life to the idea of the tricolour was the [[Flag of France|French]] blue, white, and red flag adopted after the [[French Revolution]]. The only tricolour that existed for Lithuania before the yellow, green, and red flag was a green, white, and red flag used to represent [[Lithuania Minor]].<ref name="history"/>

It is not known who originally suggested the yellow, green, and red colours, but the idea is usually attributed to Lithuanian exiles living elsewhere in Europe or in the United States during the 19th century. These three colours were frequently used in folk weavings and [[national costume|traditional dress]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.fibtex.lodz.pl/56_12_37.pdf|title=The Peculiarities of the Ornamentation of Lithuanian Traditional Woven Textiles|first1=Ingrida|last1=Zdanavičiūtė|first2=Vytautas|last2=Milašius|first3=Jurgis|last3=Katunskis|access-date=23 December 2006|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731155019/http://www.fibtex.lodz.pl/56_12_37.pdf|url-status=live|journal=Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe|date=April–June 2006|volume=14|issue=2|pages=37–40}}</ref> At the [[Great Seimas of Vilnius]] of 1905, this flag was favoured over the Vytis banner as the flag of the Lithuanian nation. The Vytis, strongly advocated by [[Jonas Basanavičius]], was not chosen for three reasons: the first was that as part of the drive for national identity, the Seimas wished to distance itself somewhat from the flag of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which also encompassed now-distinct nations such as [[Belarus]] and Ukraine. The second issue was the choice of the colour red by revolutionaries who aligned themselves with [[Marxism|Marxist]] or [[Communism|Communist]] causes. And finally, the flag with Vytis would be too complicated and could not be easily sewn.<ref name="rimsa">{{cite book |first=Edmundas |last=Rimša |title=Heraldry: Past to Present |year=2005 |publisher=Versus aureus |location=Vilnius |isbn=9955-601-73-6 |pages=82–87}}</ref>

[[File:Presidium of the Culture Congress in Kaunas, Lithuania, 1927.jpg|thumb|The Lithuanian triband at the Culture Congress in [[Kaunas]], 1927.]]
Debates about the national flag occurred again in 1917 during the [[Vilnius Conference]]. Two colours, green and red, were chosen based on their prevalence in folk art. Artist [[Antanas Žmuidzinavičius]] decorated the conference hall with small red and green flags. However, the delegates did not like the design as it was too dark and gloomy.<ref name="rimsa"/> Then Tadas Daugirdas suggested adding a narrow strip of yellow (to symbolise the rising sun) in between the red (clouds lit up by the morning sun) and green (fields and forests).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flitauen.htm |title=National Flagge des Litauen |access-date=14 April 2005 |author=Volker Preuß |language=de |archive-date=14 April 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414160648/http://www.flaggenlexikon.de/flitauen.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the delegates decided that the matter should be settled by a special commission, composed of Basanavičius, Žmuidzinavičius, and Daugirdas. On 19 April 1918, they submitted their final protocol to the [[Council of Lithuania]]. The flag was supposed to be a tricolour (yellow at the top, green in the middle, and red at the bottom) with Vytis in the upper left corner or in the middle.<ref name="rimsa"/> The Council accepted the proposal, but the 1922 [[Constitution of Lithuania]] did not include any mention of the coat of arms. It adopted the national flag that is used today. Any of the debates failed to produce a historical flag.<ref name="rimsa"/> Discussions of the national flag continued; its opponents considered gold an inappropriate colour, since the combination of yellow, green, and red did not follow the existing [[rule of tincture|rules of heraldry]]. However, no changes were made during the [[Interwar period]].

===Soviet occupation===
{{further|Flag of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
During [[World War II]], Lithuania was [[Occupation of the Baltic states|occupied by the Soviet Union]] (1940–1941, 1944–1990) and [[Occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany]] (1941–1944). The use of the national flag during this period was prohibited and prosecuted. Two flags were used during the period of Soviet occupation (1944–1988): immediately after the war, the flag consisted of a red field, golden [[hammer and sickle]] with the [[Latin alphabet|Latin]] characters ''LIETUVOS TSR'' (Lithuanian SSR in the [[Lithuanian language]]) above them in gold [[sans-serif]] lettering.<ref name=rimsa/> That flag was replaced in 1953 by the last flag used by the [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic]]—a red flag, with the hammer and sickle and star in the [[Flag terminology#Description of standard flag parts and terms|hoist]]. At the bottom of the flag, a white and green horizontal bar was placed.<ref name="history"/> The red portion of the flag took {{frac|2|3}} of the flag's width, the white {{frac|1|12}} and the green {{frac|1|4}}.<ref name=rimsa/> Since Lithuania [[Bans on communist symbols|banned Soviet symbols]] in 2008, raising or otherwise using the Lithuanian SSR flag in public is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-05|title=Lithuanian penal code|url=http://www.infolex.lt/ta/336765:str524|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717112524/http://www.infolex.lt/ta/336765:str524 |archive-date=17 July 2021 }}</ref>

===Restoration of modern flag===
[[File:Flag of Lithuania (1988–2004).svg|thumb|{{FIAV|historical}} Flag of Lithuania from 1988 to 2004. The flag had a 1:2 ratio at the time.]]
[[File:Flag of Lithuania on top of Vilnius Castle Complex.JPG|thumb|Flag of Lithuania on top of Vilnius Castle Complex]]
During 1988, when the Lithuanian [[Singing Revolution|movement towards independence]] was gaining strength, the [[Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR|Lithuanian Supreme Soviet]] again recognised the tricolour as the national flag<!-- , formally defining the colors a year later, at which point the tricolor replaced the Soviet Lithuanian flag -->, by amending article 168 of the Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Lithuanian SSR.<ref>
[http://tar.tic.lt/Default.aspx?id=2&item=results&aktoid=25FBD656-DD1F-4D7F-8414-C1AA0F35D0F3 18 November 1988 Law of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic № XI-2660 "On amendments to the articles 168 and 169 of the Constitution of the Lithuanian SSR"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801024049/http://tar.tic.lt/Default.aspx?id=2&item=results&aktoid=25FBD656-DD1F-4D7F-8414-C1AA0F35D0F3 |date=1 August 2013 }} {{in lang|lt}}
</ref> The flag was defined as rectangular tricolour which consists of three equally sized horizontal stripes: the upper is yellow, the middle is green, the lower is red; the flag ratio was to be 1:2 (as that of [[Flags of the Soviet Republics|Soviet flags]]). This flag was confirmed by the Provisional Constitution of 11 March 1990 No. I-10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.litlex.lt/Litlex/eng/Frames/Laws/Documents/131.HTM|title=The Provisional Basic Law of the Republic of Lithuania|author=Landsbergis, Vytautas|author-link=Vytautas Landsbergis|publisher=Litlex|date=11 March 1990|access-date=5 May 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175419/http://www.litlex.lt/Litlex/eng/Frames/Laws/Documents/131.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref>

After independence from the Soviet Union, the tricolour flag was written into the new [[Constitution of Lithuania]], which was adopted by a [[1992 Lithuanian constitutional referendum|referendum in 1992]].<ref name="history"/> This constitution has not specified the flag aspect ratio and therefore it remained 1:2 until 2004, when 1991 law "On the national flag and other flags" was revised by 8 July 2004 law no. IX-2331, making the flag ratio 3:5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lietuvos Respublikos valstybės vėliavos ir kitų vėliavų įstatymas |url=https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.238189?jfwid=bkaxlao4 |website=Seimas |access-date=5 June 2021 |language=lt-LT |date=8 July 2004 |archive-date=5 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605111556/https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/TAIS.238189?jfwid=bkaxlao4 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Design and symbolism==
[[File:Flag of Lithuania (construction sheet).svg|thumb|Construction sheet of the national flag]]
Passed on 26 June 1991, the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Lithuanian State Flag (Law No. I-1497) governs the design, sizes and use of the state flag. The law was amended on 8 July 2004, (Law No. IX-2331) with the most notable changes including the switching of the national flag ratio from 1:2 to 3:5 and the official adoption of a historical flag as the state (government) flag. The amendment came into force on 1 September 2004, after it was approved by President [[Valdas Adamkus]].<ref name="flaglaw">Seimas of Lithuania. [https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/en/legalAct/TAR.07CAE5E6C2B3/TAIS_442341 Republic of Lithuania Law on the National Flag and Other Flags, No. I-1497 (e-tar.lt)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020154/https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/en/legalAct/TAR.07CAE5E6C2B3/TAIS_442341 |date=7 November 2017 }}. Passed on 26 June 1991. Amended through 2013.</ref>

The yellow in the flag is meant to symbolise the sun and prosperity, the green is for the forests, the countryside, liberty, and hope, and the red represents the blood and bravery of those who have died for Lithuania.<ref name="history"/> The proper colours of both the national and state flag are made according to the [[Pantone]] Matching System, specifically Pantone textile-paper (TP). The ratio of both the national and state flag must be 3:5, with the standard flag size to be {{convert|1.0|by|1.7|m|ft}}. Different sizes of the flag can be created, but they must conform to the colour codes and ratio requirements set in the law.<ref name="flaglaw" /> The official Pantone colours have been published since 2004; the list below shows the official colours and their suggested equivalents:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Scheme
! style="background-color:#FDB913"|Yellow
! style="background-color:#006A44;color:white"|Green
! style="background-color:#C1272D;color:white"|Red<ref>{{in lang|lt}} [http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter2/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=254508&p_query=purpuro&p_tr2=2 Lithuanian Heraldry Commission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527013643/https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAK/TAIS.254508|date=27 May 2020}}. The color red is described in Lithuanian as "purpuro", which means "magenta". However, that doesn't mean the flag color itself is purple. This error was made in regard to the Presidential Standard in early reports by [[Vexillology|vexillologist]] publications.</ref>
|-
| [[Pantone]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAK/TAIS.254508|title=1 Dėl Lietuvos valstybės ir Respublikos Prezidento vėliavų spalvų nustatymo|website=e-seimas.lrs.lt|access-date=20 October 2021|archive-date=27 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527013643/https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAK/TAIS.254508|url-status=live|language=lt}}</ref><ref name="lrv">{{Cite web|title=Lithuanian Government&nbsp;— flag standard|url=https://lrv.lt/uploads/main/documents/files/Naudinga_informacija/Valstybes_ir_vyriausybes_simboliai/LR_veliava_ir_herbas.pdf|access-date=23 January 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605033630/http://www.lrv.lt/bylos/herbas-logo/LR_veliava_ir_herbas.pdf|archive-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>
| 15-0955 TP / 1235 c/u
| 19-6026 TP / 349 c/u
| 19-1664 TP / 180 c/u
|-
| [[RGB color model|RGB]]<ref name="lrv" />
| 253, 185, 19
| 0, 106, 68
| 193, 39, 45
|-
| [[Web colors|Web colours]]<ref name="lrv" />
| #FDB913
| #006A44
| #C1272D
|-
| [[CMYK color model|CMYK]]<ref name="lrv" />
| 0, 30, 100, 0
| 100, 55, 100, 0
| 25, 100, 100, 0
|}

==State (historical) flag==
[[File:Lithuania and historical Vytis flags during EuroBasket 2011.jpg|thumb|State flag (upper) and the national flag, displayed by the [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuanian basketball]] fans in 2011.]]
In 2004, along with the law authorising the change of the flag ratio, a state flag was adopted. This flag displays the national [[coat of arms]] in banner form. The ratio of the flag is the same as that of the national flag, i.e. 3:5. The state flag, called the ''historical national (armorial) flag'' in law,<ref>Article 2(2) Law No. I-1497, as amended</ref> was proposed by [[Česlovas Juršėnas]], the vice-speaker of the Seimas, and by [[Edmundas Rimša]], the chairman of the Commission of Heraldry. This flag was also proposed at the same time as the grand coat of arms; both were meant to honour the 750th anniversary of the coronation of [[Mindaugas]] in 1253 (anniversary took place in 2003). This was one of the few flags considered to become the national flag during the drive for national independence. Several other countries, including Finland, Spain, Venezuela, Germany and Thailand, have an official national flag for civilian use and a [[state flag]] for government use.

In 2008, the project intended to draft state flag was formed by the Commission of Heraldry. It concluded work in 2010. The designer of the State (historic) flag was [[Arvydas Každailis]], who also designed the coat of arms.<ref name="stateflag">{{in lang|lt}} [http://www3.lrs.lt/home/w5_viewer/statiniai/seimu_istorija/w5_show-p_r=4056&p_d=17268&p_k=1.html Seimas of Lithuania – Symbols – Historic flag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531191837/http://www3.lrs.lt/home/w5_viewer/statiniai/seimu_istorija/w5_show-p_r%3D4056%26p_d%3D17268%26p_k%3D1.html |date=31 May 2019 }}. Retrieved 14 December 2006, translated on 15 December 2006.</ref> On 17 June 2010, this state flag proposal was adopted.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.delfi.lt/lietuvoje/article.php?id=33610561|title=Seimas patvirtino Lietuvos valstybės istorinės vėliavos projektą ir etaloną|website=DELFI|access-date=20 October 2021|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020014350/https://m.delfi.lt/lietuvoje/article.php?id=33610561|url-status=live|language=lt|date=17 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=15431&p_k=1&p_t=99420|title=Seimas patvirtino Lietuvos valstybės istorinės vėliavos projektą ir etaloną|website=[[Seimas]]|language=lt|date=17 June 2010|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref>

Under the National Flag Law, the state flag is permanently hoisted at three locations: the [[Royal Palace of Lithuania]], [[Trakai Island Castle]], and the grounds of the [[Vytautas the Great War Museum]] in [[Kaunas]].<ref name="SeimasHistoricalFlag">{{cite web |title=Historical national (armorial) flag of Lithuania |url=https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=38112&p_k=2&p_kade_id=9 |website=[[Seimas]] |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182907/https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=38112&p_k=2&p_kade_id=9 |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, the flag is hoisted at the following locations on these days:<ref name="stateflag"/><ref name="SeimasHistoricalFlag"/>

* 16 February&nbsp;– next to the [[House of the Signatories]], on [[Pilies Street]] in Vilnius
* 11 March&nbsp;– next to [[Seimas Palace]]
* 6 July&nbsp;– next to the [[Presidential Palace, Vilnius]]
* 15 July&nbsp;– next to the Ministry of Defence
* 25 October&nbsp;– next to the Seimas Palace, the Presidential Palace, and the [[Gediminas Avenue|Gedimino 11]] building that houses the Government of Lithuania

==Flag protocol==
[[File:Flag of Lithuania (vertical).svg|thumb|120px|A vertical display of the Lithuanian flag]]
[[File:House of Signatories.jpg|thumb|Flags hoisted on the [[House of the Signatories]] on 16 February 2007.]]
The flag can be flown vertically or horizontally from public buildings, private homes, businesses, ships, town squares, or during official ceremonies. If the flag is flown horizontally, the yellow stripe must be at top; when flown vertically, the yellow stripe must be facing Left with the red stripe facing Right. While the flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset, government offices in Lithuania and abroad must fly the flag on a 24-hour basis. The flags must conform to the legal standards, and cannot be soiled or damaged in any way.<ref name="flaglaw" />

For [[mourning]] activities, the flag can be flown in either of the following ways. The first method, commonly known as [[half-staff]]ing, is performed when the flag is hoisted to the top of the flagpole, then lowered to the pole's one-third position. The other method is to attach a black ribbon to a flag that is permanently affixed to a staff. The ribbon itself is ten centimetres wide and it is attached to the mast so that the ends of the ribbon reach the bottom of the flag. During a funeral ceremony, the flag may be used to cover the coffins of government officials, soldiers, signatories of the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania]], and persons designated by an act of the President; these flags are later folded and presented to the next of kin before interment.<ref name="flaglaw" />

When flying the Lithuanian flag with other flags, the following is the correct [[Flag protocol|order of precedence]]: the national flag, the historical (state) flag, flags of foreign states, the [[flag of Europe]], international [[non-governmental organization|NGOs]], the presidential standard, military and government standards, [[Counties of Lithuania|county]] flags, city flags and any others. When foreign flags are used alongside the Lithuanian flag, the flags are sorted according to their countries' names in the [[Lithuanian language]]. The only exception is when the congress or meeting held in Lithuanian dictates a different language to be used for sorting. The flag of Europe has been hoisted since Lithuania became a member of the [[European Union]]. While not mentioned by name in the law, the [[flag of NATO]] can be used in Lithuania, since it belongs to that organization as well. It is also common to fly the flags of [[Flag of Estonia|Estonia]] and [[Flag of Latvia|Latvia]] during certain occasions, mainly the celebration of independence of the three [[Baltic states]]. The ''Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the National Flag and Other Flags'' governs the rules, use, protocol and manufacturing of the national and other flags used inside the country.<ref name="flaglaw" />

===National flag days===
As part of the flag protocol, the daily display of the Lithuanian flag is encouraged, but is strongly encouraged or legally required on the following days:<ref name="flaglaw" /><ref name="dayslt">{{cite web |title=1649 Dėl Lietuvos valstybės vėliavos ir kitų vėliavų kėlimo ir naudojimo |url=https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.B490744731F8/PKVOATqqew |website=www.e-tar.lt |access-date=20 June 2025 |language=lt-LT}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
! Date !! English name !! Remarks
|-
| 1 January || [[Flag Day]] || Commemorating the day when the national flag was first raised on the [[Gediminas Tower]] in 1919
|-
| 13 January || Freedom Fighters Day || In memory of the [[January Events]] in 1991
|-
| 16 February || Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania (from the [[Russian Empire]], 1918) || Hoisted with the Latvian and Estonian flags
|-
| 24 February || Day of Independence of Estonia || Hoisted with the Latvian and Estonian flags
|-
| 11 March || Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the [[Soviet Union]], 1990) || Hoisted with the Latvian and Estonian flags
|-
| 29 March || [[NATO Day]] || In honour of Lithuania's accession to NATO in 2004; hoisted with the [[Flag of NATO]]
|-
| 1 May || European Union Day || In honour of Lithuania's accession to the European Union in 2004; hoisted with the [[Flag of Europe]]
|-
| 9 May || [[Europe Day]] || Commemorates the 1950 establishment of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]] by the [[Schuman Declaration]]
|-
| 15 May || Day of Convening of the Constituent Seimas || In honour of the [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania]]
|-
| 14 June || Day of Mourning and Hope || Marks the date of the [[June deportation|first mass deportation]] of Lithuanians to Siberia in 1941; the flag is marked for mourning
|-
| 15 June || Day of Occupation and Genocide || Marks the beginning of [[Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in 1940; the flag is marked for mourning
|-
| 6 July || [[Statehood Day (Lithuania)|Statehood Day]] || Commemorates coronation of the first king, [[Mindaugas]], in 1253
|-
| 15 July || Day of the [[Battle of Grünwald]] || Commemorates the victory of the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] over the [[Teutonic Knights]] in 1410
|-
| 23 August || Day of Black Ribbon || Marks the signing of the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]] between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Nazi Germany]] in 1939; the flag is marked for mourning
|-
| 31 August || Freedom Day || Marking the final departure of the [[Red Army]] from Lithuania in 1993
|-
| 23 September || Day of Genocide of Lithuanian Jews || Marking the destruction of the [[Vilna Ghetto|Vilnius ghetto]] by Nazi Germany in 1943
|-
| 25 October || Constitution Day || Commemorating the adoption of the [[constitution of Lithuania|national constitution in 1992]]
|-
| 18 November || [[Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia]]|| Hoisted together with the [[Flag of Latvia|Latvian]] and [[Flag of Estonia|Estonian]] flags
|-
| 23 November || [[Armed Forces Day]] || Commemorating the establishment of the [[Lithuanian Armed Forces]] in 1918
|}

Apart from these days, the flag is flown at [[Elections in Lithuania|election]] polling sites. The national government, under Article 4, Section 7 of the flag law, is given the authority to call for the display of the national flag and to determine special conditions, such as marking for mourning.<ref name="flaglaw" />

==Other Lithuanian flags==
{{See also|Flags of the counties of Lithuania}}
[[File:Naval Ensign of Lithuania.svg|thumb|{{FIAV|000001}} {{FIAV|Mirror}} Naval ensign (Ratio 3:5)]]
[[File:Flag of the Lithuanian Army.svg|thumb|{{FIAV|000000}} Military ensign with the [[Columns of Gediminas]]]]
[[File:Flag of the President of Lithuania.svg|thumb|200px|Presidential standard (Ratio 5:6)]]
A [[naval ensign]] has been used by Lithuania starting on 25 May 1992. The ensign has a white background charged with a blue cross, with the national flag in the canton. The width of each cross is 1/10th of the total width of the ensign, with the ratio being 3:5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lietuvos heraldikos komisijos 2024 m. veiklos ataskaita |url=https://www.lrp.lt/data/public/uploads/2025/03/lhk-ataskaita-2024.pdf |access-date=29 March 2025 |publisher=Lithuanian Commission of Heraldry }}</ref> The [[maritime flag|naval jack]] is identical to the historical state flag of Lithuania. A masthead pennant has been adopted by the [[Lithuanian Naval Force|Lithuanian Navy]] to use on their ships.<ref name="naval">[[Flags of the World (website)|Flags of the World]]. [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lt-nav.html Lithuania – Naval Flags] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061019043007/http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lt-nav.html |date=19 October 2006 }}. Retrieved 13 December 2006.</ref>

The [[President of Lithuania]] was officially given a standard by the [[Seimas]] from 26 January 1993, with color shades standardized on 18 February. The standard is the coat of arms of Lithuania that supported by griffon and unicorn charged in the center on a single-color background.<ref>Article 7(3), Law I-56, as amended</ref> Under state law, the background color is stated as purple, but the color used in practice is dark red. The ratio of the standard is 1:1.2.<ref>[https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/en/legalAct/TAR.438A78A26F38/TAIS_331601 Law on the Office of President – No. I-56, as amended (e-tar.lt)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012826/https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/en/legalAct/TAR.438A78A26F38/TAIS_331601 |date=7 November 2017 }}. Passed 26 January 1993.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Flag of the President of the Republic of Lithuania |url=https://grybauskaite.lrp.lt/en/institution/coat-of-arms-and-flags-of-lithuania/the-flag-of-the-president-of-the-republic-of-lithuania/20807 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028161009/https://grybauskaite.lrp.lt/en/institution/coat-of-arms-and-flags-of-lithuania/the-flag-of-the-president-of-the-republic-of-lithuania/20807 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2021 |access-date=21 September 2022 |publisher=Prezidentė Dalia Grybauskaitė }}</ref>

Each county of Lithuania has adopted a flag, each of them conforming to a pattern: a blue rectangle, with ten instances of the Cross of [[Vytis]] ([[cross of Lorraine|double cross]] [[or (heraldry)|or]]) appearing in gold, acts as a fringe to the central feature of the flag, which is chosen by the county itself. Most of the central designs were adapted from the counties' coat of arms.<ref>[http://www.vexilla-mundi.com/lithuania_flag.html Vexillology of Lithuania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181432/http://www.vexilla-mundi.com/lithuania_flag.html |date=30 September 2007 }}. Vexilla Mundi. Retrieved 13 December 2006.</ref>

===Later national flag proposals===
[[File:Flag of Lithuania (Proposal No. 1, 1940).svg|left|thumb|{{FIAV|proposal}}{{FIAV|twosided}} The main proposal for the Lithuanian state flag change from 1940<ref>Žilys, Juozas (16 February 2019). [https://ve.lt/naujienos/lietuva/lietuva/valstybes-veliava-herbas-ir-himnas---kodel-jie-tokie-1693187 "Valstybės vėliava, herbas ir himnas – kodėl jie tokie?"] [State flag, coat of arms and anthem — why are they like that?] (in Lithuanian). ''[[Vakarų ekspresas]]''.</ref>]]
Even though all members of the [[Council of Lithuania]] agreed with the flag proposal, some were unsatisfied with the adopted national flag claiming it to be very similar to national flags of [[Flag of Colombia|Colombia]] and [[Flag of Ethiopia|Ethiopia]]. Serious deliberations on changing the Lithuanian flag began in 1936.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trispalvės ir herbo gimimas |url=https://www.bernardinai.lt/2018-09-14-trispalves-ir-herbo-gimimas/ |website=Bernardinai.lt |access-date=9 April 2023 |language=lt-LT |date=14 September 2018}}</ref> One of the greatest supporters for the flag change during the [[interwar period]] was a famous artist [[Mstislav Dobuzhinsky]] who claimed that the current flag of Lithuania did not meet the standards of [[heraldry]]. In 1938, Dobuzhinsky consulted with Lithuanian philosopher [[Vydūnas]] who provided him with information on the historical flag of [[Lithuania Minor]].<ref>Dykovienė, Asta (19 April 2019). [https://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/salies-pulsas/lietuvos-veliavos-spalvu-dilema-910460?psl=2 "Lietuvos vėliavos spalvų dilema"] [The dilemma of Lithuanian flag colours] (in Lithuanian). ''[[Kauno diena]]''.</ref> Dobuzhinsky convinced President [[Antanas Smetona]] that the flag must be changed. According to journalist and collector Vilius Kavaliauskas, "The explanation was simple: the colors of the flag had to match those of the [[Coat of arms of Lithuania|coat of arms]]. No green color was present in the coat of arms. What is interesting that Smetona was convinced and, possibly on 8 May 1940, he convened a meeting with the Commission of Heraldry where it was decided to change the Lithuanian flag." Any further considerations regarding the flag change ended with the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|occupation of Lithuania]] by the Soviet Union in June 1940.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2007 |title=Aistros dėl Lietuvos vėliavos spalvų |trans-title=Passions over the colors of the Lithuanian flag |url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/aistros-del-lietuvos-veliavos-spalvu.d?id=12469937 |website=[[Delfi (web portal)|Delfi]] |language=Lithuanian}}</ref>
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==See also==
* [[List of flags of Lithuania]]
* [[Tautiška giesmė]]
* [[Coat of arms of Lithuania]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|National flag of Lithuania}}
* [https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=38111&p_k=2 Seimas of Lithuania – History of the national flag of Lithuania]
* [http://www3.lrs.lt/home/w5_viewer/statiniai/seimu_istorija/w5_show-p_r=4056&p_d=10282&p_k=1.html Mirror] {{in lang|lt}} 
* {{FOTW|id=lt|title=Lithuania}}
* [http://www.vexillographia.ru/litva/index.htm VEXILLOGRAPHIA - Флаги Литвы] {{in lang|ru}}

{{Flags and coats of arms of Lithuania}}
{{Lithuania topics}}
{{Flags of Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lithuania, Flag of}}
[[Category:Flags of Lithuania| ]]
[[Category:National symbols of Lithuania|Flag]]
[[Category:National flags]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1918]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 1988]]
[[Category:Flags introduced in 2004]]
[[Category:Tricolor flags]]
[[Category:Horizontally symmetrical flags]]
[[Category:Flags with green, red and yellow]]