Symbolism
The red cross on the white canton represents the Christian faith. The white represents purity and the red field represents the blood of Christ shed during the Crucifixion.
History
Adopted on November 4, 1875, during the reign of King George Tupou I. The design deliberately reversed the colors of the Red Cross flag to express Tonga's Christian identity, and the 1875 constitution forbids any alteration to the flag for all time.
Construction
A 1:2 ratio. A red field with a white square canton containing a red Coupe cross.
Color Meanings
red: The blood of Christ shed during the Crucifixion
white: Purity and the Christian faith
red-cross: The Christian faith and the people's devotion
Country Facts
- Population
- 100.2K
0.2% of Oceania
- Capital
- Nuku'alofa
- Languages
- English, Tongan
- Continent
- Oceania
- Subregion
- Pacific
- Landlocked
- Island state
- ISO 3166-1
- TO
Flag Identification
- Adopted
- November 4, 1875
- Proportions
1:2
- Total Colors
- 2
- Key Symbols
- Canton, Emblem
Influences
Red Cross flag (reversed)
Related flags
Flag Protocol
- The constitution forbids changing the flag for any reason
- It must be treated with the highest respect as a sacred symbol
Practice
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