Currently, I own 64 flags (assuming I’ve counted correctly) and, since summer is usually when I start flying them on a semi-regular basis, I sat down and made a list of all the flags I had and then, in a rather more time-consuming feat, I worked my list into a spreadsheet of major public holidays for each country so I could know what days I could fly what flags on.
Before I get into what’s gone up so far, I thought I’d lay down some of my personal rules for how I fly my flags:
I’ve got two flag poles— one of which will probably have the Stars and Stripes on a more or less permanent basis.
If there’s no other flag on deck for that day you’ll probably see a Union Jack on my first flag pole- but there are exceptions to that rule. Since June is Pride Month, you’ll probably see our Rainbow Flag up there more often and when Arsenal starts playing in the fall, I’m going to try and get their flag up when I can and hopefully add an Iowa Hawkeyes flag for Iowa gamedays- but in general, if there are no other flags I can fly, it’ll be the Stars and Stripes plus the Union Jack.
I do have some flags I’m probably not going to be flying. You won’t see Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, or China anytime soon. I’m mulling over what to do about Israel and Palestine and might end up flying those together, but it doesn’t seem right to me to fly one without the other. In general, I’m going this to have fun. I’m doing this because I collect flags. I’m not doing this to make a political statement. I don’t own a Gadsden Flag largely for two reasons: one, I don’t want to get dragged into the politics of any flag I own and two, I find other Revolutionary War-era banners to be far more interesting and worthy of attention. You probably aren’t going to see me with a Thin Blue Line Flag either… not because I hate cops, but again, because I’m doing this for fun and because I like flags and not because I’m trying to make any kind of a statement.
Those are the basic guidelines I’ve set myself, now let’s talk about what we’ve done so far for the season.
May 6th: Coronation Day
May 7th: Kazakhstan (Defender of the Fatherland Day)
May 25th: Argentina (Dia de La Revolucion de Mayo)
May 28th: Philippines Flag Day- also, do you know if they’re at war, they flip it over and the red part goes on top? Now you do.
May 29th: Nepal (Republic Day)
June 1st: Indonesia (Pancasila Day)
(Okay: I’m going to tell on myself here— I’m not 100% sure that’s the flag of Indonesia. But that’s the joy of having Poland and Indonesia in your collection. Sometimes they can get mixed up so I’m pretty sure I grabbed the wrong flag here and this is an upside-down Poland. For that, I apologize.)
June 2nd: Italy (Republic Day)
June 3rd: Pride Flag
It’s June, so Pride moves into pole position (pun intended) for the majority of the month through July 3rd, which marks the end of the Stonewall Riots at least according to what I found on the interwebs.)
June 6th: Sweden (National Day)
Here’s what we’ve got for the rest of the summer:
JUNE
10th: Portugal-Portugal Day
12th: Philippines- Independence Day
14th: British Columbia-Flag Day (Also: United States Flag Day!)
16th: South Africa- Youth Day
18th: Seychelles- Constitution Day
19th: Uruguay- Jose Artigas’ Birthday
25th: Mozambique- Independence Day
29th: Seychelles- National Day
JULY
1st: Canada- Canada Day
2nd-3rd: Pride Flag- Anniversary of Stonewall
4th: Pine Tree Flag- US Independence Day
5th: Algeria- Independence Day
6th: Tibet- 14th Dalai Lama’s Birthday
9th: Argentina- Independence Day
11th-13th, 15th: Mongolia- Nadaam Festival
14th: France- Bastille Day
17th: South Korea- Constitution Day
20th: Colombia- Independence Day
21st: Belgium- National Day
AUGUST
1st: Switzerland- Swiss National Day
7th: Colombia- Anniversary of the Battle of Boyaca
9th: South Africa- National Women’s Day
10th: Ecuador- Independence of Quito
14th: Pakistan- Independence Day
15th: India- Independence Day
17th: Indonesia- Independence Day
20th: Chile- Bernardo O’Higgins’ Birthday
25th: Uruguay- Independence Day
30th: Kazakhstan- Constitution Day
31st: Malaysia- Independence Day/Hari Merdeka
I have a year-round schedule made up, but I have yet to decide how crazy I’m going to get with the flying of the flags. I might go hardcore and go all year round, in which case I’ll post the Fall and Winter Schedules when we get there. The reality of the situation is that I’m far more likely to quit doing this when the snow starts flying, so watch this space to find out more.
But in the meantime: what’s your favorite flag? Do you have a favorite flag? What flags should I add to my collection? Let me know in the comments below!