Flag of Turkey - Colours, Meaning, History ??

The Turkish flag has a red background with a crescent moon and a white star at the center. The Turkish national anthem refers to it as al bayrak, meaning the red flag, or al sancak denoting the red banner. The Turkish adopted the Ottoman Empire flag without altering it in 1844, and have been using it ever since. They did, however, introduce proportional standardization laws of the flag in 1936.

History of the Flag of Turkey

Various theories explain the history of the Turkish flag. It is believed that the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol. The crescent and star are also considered historic symbols of the Ottoman empire. The crescent moon is believed to have originated from Central Asia and the Siberian people who worshiped the sun, moon, and sky using these symbols.

Osman I led the Ottoman Turks, founded the Ottoman dynasty, and ruled the Ottoman Empire. There is a scarcity of information on Osman I. Hence it is difficult for historians to differentiate between facts and myth when it comes to his story. The Ottomans recorded his history in the fifteenth century, 100 years after he had died. A legend tells how Osman is the reason the crescent and star symbol appears on the flag. In the story, Osman had a dream in which he saw the moon rise from the breasts of a holy man and sink onto Osman’s own. A tree sprouted from his navel and its shade covered the whole world. The shade provided cover to the mountains and streams. People drank from these waters, watered gardens and others made fountains flow. Beneath the tree, the world spread as it got surmounted by the crescent.

In another theory, the Greek Goddess Diana was honored using the symbols (crescent and star). The colors were chosen by the city of Byzantium, later known as Constantinople. In the 4th century BC, the crescent and star were engraved on Byzantine coins and shields until the 13th century. It’s unclear which flags the Turkish people used before the Ottoman empire. The Ottoman dynasty took control of Turkey in 1299, but an official flag was made available in 1844. This happened during the Tanzimat reformation. The Turk people, in 1453, added the star and crescent moon to the flag that was previously green with a crescent and star. In 1793, a decree ordered the change of the green color to red and added an 8-pointed star. The red flag remained during the reign of Selim III, until they reduced the 8-pointed star to five in the 1840s.

The 19th century saw the Tanzimat reforms that required Turkish nationals to redesign flags in the European army style. The Ottoman Navy adopted the red flag. Red was the color of secular institutions, while green was for the religious ones. These reforms led to the abolishment of all other flags by the Ottoman pashaliks, Emirates, and Beyliks. A new single Ottoman flag replaced them all. This resulted in the red flag that has a crescent moon and a five-pointed star. The Republic of Turkey adopted this Ottoman flag after its foundation in 1923. They used this flag until 1936 when the proportional standards got introduced.

What is the meaning behind the colours of the Flag of Turkey?

Colour
Traditionally, red is an Islamic color that the Ottomans used before the empire collapsed in 1918. According to legend, the two colors (red and white) are from the blood spilled by soldiers as the country was battling to establish itself during the independence war. They were fighting against colonial powers like England, France, Russia, and Greece. The war took the lives of over 40,000 Turkish soldiers. The moon’s light and that of Venus (thought to be a star then) reflected on the blood of the fallen at night. It’s a symbol of sacrifices made so that the country could gain independence. The crescent stars also represent Turkish religious beliefs. The star with eight points represented the eight states of the Ottoman Empire.

Shape
According to the Turkish flag laws, the diameter of the circle around the star should be a quarter that of the length of the flag, while the distance between the center of the inner and outer circles of the crescent should be 1/16th of the length, and the size of the white stripe at the hoist side should be 1/30th of the length.

Interesting Facts about the Flag of Turkey

The flag should be displayed on all state institutions including schools, the military, muhtar offices, airports, bridges, etc. This law applies to all state-owned buildings too, where one or more flags could be displayed. The flag is also hoisted on general and national holidays from the start of the holiday to the end.
The flag features a patch of military uniforms on the right shoulder, or at the front. Helmets too, have flags on the front or on the sides. Other outfits that feature the flag include the navy, flight, and Jandarma. Others, like the emblems, also have the flag either with minor or distinct alterations.
Citizens should display the flag during celebrations, national days or protests. National events include Republic Day and battle victories where people line the streets with flags in celebration. Monuments and statues are draped with the flag as people march and sing on the streets.
During state and military funerals, the flag gets a prominent display. It’s draped over the coffin and carried by relatives or the military police. Sometimes soldiers and the Presidential guard carry a coffin.
The flag flies at half-mast on November 10th to commemorate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s death in 1938. He was the founder of the Turkish Republic, a military hero and leader of the Turkish National Liberation Struggle. He ruled for 15 years before his death in 1938. The Prime Minister announces other incidences when the flag should fly half-mast.
Instances when one can salute the flag include during raising, lowering and during transfer of power ceremonies.
If the Turkish flag is unraveled, torn, dirty, patched, wrinkled, faded or in any condition that destroys its spiritual value, it should not be raised.
Unless for official oath ceremonies, the flag shall not be placed on podiums or desks. The flag should also not be displayed in places where people sit or stand. No one should wear the flag as a uniform or dress. Political parties, clubs, associations, organizations, foundations and society cannot use the flag on pennants, symbols, emblems and other objects that form a background on either side.
Citizens should not disrespect or insult the Turkish flag through speech, action, writing, etc. They should also not burn it, tear it or throw it without care. All these offenses to the flag are liable for punishment.