Vexillology: More of the Same

As promised, today I'm back with five sets of flags that are nearly identical!

Slovenia and Slovakia

I admit, I sometimes get Slovenia and Slovakia mixed up. (I have actually been to Slovakia, but only very briefly, and not even on purpose. A tour bus I was on broke down somewhere between Budapest and Prague, and I had to hang out at a Tesco somewhere outside of Bratislava for about an hour.) 

The names are similar, they are both vaguely Slavic, and their flags are nearly identical except for the designs in the crests emblazoned on the flags. In fact, it's such a common mix-up that the wrong flag and anthem are frequently displayed at international sporting events!

The truth is, both flags share a common Slavic heritage, and incorporate the same colors (as do Czechia, Russia, and others) as many other Slavic nations. However, if it were up to me, I'd at least try to distinguish both countries by their flags! It's confusing enough as it is.

A good way to remember the difference is that Donald Trump's wife is from Slovenia, and Donald Trump's ex-wife is from Czechoslovakia. Easy, right?

Slovenia

Slovakia

Ireland and Côte d'Ivoire

The flags of the Republic of Ireland and the Ivory Coast look similar, although the colors are flipped. While the flags are completely unrelated, they do in fact have similar meanings.

The flag of Ireland, which was designed in 1916, is a tricolor of green, white, and orange. The green band represents the Catholics of Ireland. The orange, of course, represents the Protestants. The white band in the middle represents peace and a lasting truce between the two Irish factions. The flag is intended to symbolize inclusion and unity.

The flag of the Ivory Coast is similar. In this case, green represents the people in the northern forests of the country, orange, the people in the southern savannah of the country, and white, that same unity holding the country together in peace.

Ireland

Ivory Coast

Cuba and Puerto Rico

The flags of the Republic of the Republic of Cuba and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico were both designed around the same time, and their similarities are definitely no accident! Cuba and Puerto Rico, in the mid-1800s both Spanish territories, has large pro-independence movements living in exile in the United States. Both territories were united by a common heritage, and viewed one another as brothers. The flags, identical except for the swapped colors, were meant to reflect this. While both were at one point US territories, Cuba eventually became and independent republic in 1902. Puerto Rico remains a US territory, but there's a large pro-statehood movement which I think may see traction in the coming years.

Cuba

Puerto Rico

Chile and Texas

Like the flag of the State (and former Republic) of Texas, the flag of Chile is called La Estrella Solitaria, or the "Lone Star Flag". Historians agree that neither flag was influenced by the other, and that the similarities between the two were purely coincidental. Still, that doesn't stop the confusion, and both Texas and Chile are surely too proud to consider redesigning their flags! (And sorry, Texas, but the Chilean flag is actually older by about two decades). 

It's caused so much confusion that a Texas state representative even introduces a (admittedly lighthearted) resolution urging Texans not to use the Chilean flag emoji to represent Texas.

Chile

Texas

Jordan, Palestine, and Western Sahara

Again, the similarities between the flags of Jordan, Palestine, and Western Sahara are understandable - all feature the Pan-Arab colors and are descended from the flag of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1916. While today only the Kingdom of Jordan is a fully-recognized sovereign state, this could cause lots of confusion if/when Palestine and Western Sahara get full UN recognition!

Jordan

Palestine

Western Sahara

I suppose if there's one thing I've learned from this series, it is that many of the world's nearly-identical flags similarities are due to historic reasons - a unified heritage or common predecessor state. While this makes sense, I still think it's confusing, especially when two similar flags are flown over neighboring countries. In the past, flags were harder to make, and were therefore simpler. Nowadays, however, there's no reason to fly a simple tricolor, especially when it's identical to another! I understand honoring heritage, but I think a country could celebrate its unique history and culture with a unique and beautiful flag all of its own.