The Evolution of the Lebanese Flag

he Lebanese Flag consists of three horizontal bands, Red, White, and Red, with a green cedar in the center. The tip and root of the green Cedar both stretch towards the edge of the red areas. The red bands symbolize the pure blood, shed in the aim of liberation. The white band symbolizes peace. As for the green cedar, it symbolizes immortality. The Lebanese flag was raised in Bashamoun on the 21st of November 1943 at 11:20 pm. It is believed that this same flag is now kept in the National Museum, although it may have been transported to the Governmental Palace in Bteddine.

Lebanon has had several flags and banners, around which the Lebanese citizens had gathered through times of peace and war.
The Lebanese flag has evolved according to the following historical steps:


The Mamluks Flag: It consisted of a cloth embroidered with golden threads.	The Phoenician Flag: This flag was blue, symbolizing the sea, yet the red color was later added to it when the purple color was discovered.

The Rebels Flag during Prince Ibrahim's Era: It became a white cloth with a red carnation at the bottom right corner.	The Rebels Flag: It consisted of a cross and a sword, both white, on a red cloth.

The Shehabian Flag: Consisted of a blue cloth with a white crescent.	The Lamaïte Flag: It consisted of a white cloth with a drawing of a Lion.

The Abi Kand Flag: Consisted of two vertical and equal bands, one yellow and one blue.	The Tannoukhian Flag: Consisted of 5 colors divided vertically in equal bands of white, blue, yellow, red and green.

The National Maaniïtes Flag: The Kaïssy Party Flag.	The Maaniïtes Flag at the end of the Maaniïtes Emirate: End of the 17th century.

The Ottoman Flag: Consisted of a red cloth with a white crescent and white star in the center, and remained as such until their departure in 1918.	The Jumblatian Flag: It consisted of a red flag with a green frame; a sword and a dark green hand in the middle.

The Lebanese Cedar: Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it consisted of a white cloth with a green cedar in the center.	The Lebanese flag during the French Mandate: It was similar to the Blue, White and Red French Flag with a green Cedar in the middle, and was designed by the president of the Lebanese Nahda (renaissance) Movement, the late Naoum Mukarzel.

The National Flag: White and Red with a cedar in the center. The Cedar consists of two thirds of the size of the white band.	The Independence Flag: As drawn by the MPs using pencils during the parliamentary session.