What do the colours stand for? The symbolism behind the red, white, and green of the Hungarian flag

Today, 20 August, marks Hungary’s most important national holiday, celebrating the foundation of the state and commemorating St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary. On this day, Hungarian flags are prominently displayed on public buildings, institutions, and ships, as it is a national requirement during official celebrations. Do you know what the 3 colours in the flag stand for? Let us show you.

Symbolism of the colours in the Hungarian flag

Panorama of Budapest with the Hungarian flag. Photo: depositphotos.com

Hungary’s official flag, as defined by the Constitution, consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width in the colours red, white, and green, from top to bottom. These colours were officially adopted in 1848 by Act XXI. But do you know what these colours represent?

The red symbolises strength, the white stands for loyalty, and the green signifies hope.

You might also encounter a version of the Hungarian flag that features the country’s coat of arms. The coat of arms includes a shield with a pointed base, divided into two fields. The first field is horizontally striped with red and silver seven times. The second field features a green triple hill with a central peak bearing a silver double cross topped by a golden crown. At the top of the shield rests the Holy Crown of Hungary.

Hungarian coat of arms. Photo: Facebook, Magyarország Kormánya

Throughout history, different versions of the coat of arms have appeared on the Hungarian flag—you can view them HERE. The current version, featuring the crown, was adopted by the Hungarian Parliament in 1990 after much debate, Player.hu writes. The core elements of this coat of arms, however, date back to the 16th century.

According to popular interpretations, the double cross signifies the apostolic kingdom, the triple hill represents three mountain ranges (the Tatra, Matra, and Fatra), and the silver stripes symbolise four rivers: Danube, Tisza, Drava, and Sava.

Read also:

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• Downpour warning issued: Will the spectacular firework show on 20 August be cancelled?

Featured image: depositphotos.com