Greece - Law on Flag

Last modified: 1997-09-03 by giuseppe bottasini
Keywords: greece | law |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

See also: Grecian flags

                           LAW No 851
              On the National Flag, War Flags and
        the Insignia of the President of the Republic
                        THE PRESIDENT
                   OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC
voting unanimously with the Parliament, we have decided:
                         Article 1
                       National Flag
        1. The National Flag of Greece is blue and white, consists of nine
horizontal stripes of equal width, of which five (5) are blue and four (4)
white, in such a way that the top and the bottom stripes are blue and the rest
alternately white and blue.
        2. On the top corner of the flag adjoining the flagstaff or flagpole
there is an upright white cross, whose vertical and transverse arms are of
equal length, extending to the four sides of a blue rectangle encompassing it
and covering from top to bottom three stripes blue and two white.
        3. The width of the intersecting lines of the cross is equal to that of
the stripes. The flag's width to length ratio is two (2) to three (3); each
stripe's width measures the one ninth (1/9) of that of the whole flag.
        4. The sizes of the National Flag as well as the heights of the
flagstaffs and flagpoles on which the flag is flown, are listed on the table
shown hereunder:
------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>
Dimensions in centimetres
------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>
Sizes of        Length of       Width of        Width of        Cross
Flags           Flag            Flag            Stripes         square
                                                                side
------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>
(1)             (2)             (3)             (4)             (5)
------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>
1st             648             432             48              240
2nd             409             270             30              150
3rd             297             198             22              110
4th             189             126             14               70
5th             135              90             10               50
6th              95              63              7               35
7th              63              45              5               25
8th              27              18              2               10
------------------------------------------------------------------------->>>>
>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Dimensions in metres
>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Height of flag-         Length of flagpole
                        staff attached          fastened to the
                        to the ground           top of a structure
                                                (balcony or window)
>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)                          (6)                     (7)
>>>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st                     15 up to 18             9 up to 12
2nd                     10 up to 12             7 up to 8
3rd                      7 up to 9              5 up to 6
4th                      5 up to 6              3 up to 4
5th                      -                      2 up to 2,6
6th                      -                      -
7th                      -                      -
8th                      -                      -
>>>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
        5. The flagstaffs and flagpoles referred to in the previous paragraph
are white in colour, those of the cases of para 1 of following article, bear an
orb on top of them crowned by a white cross, both being in harmonious
proportion to the height of the staff or the length of the pole. In all other
cases, they bear a cylindrial curved piece on top of them whose diameter is
double that of the flagpole or flagstaff and whose height is equal to half the
diameter.
        6. All flags are cut from a suitable fabric of unfading colour, the
hoisting of worn or discoulered flags or flags manufactured by impression being
forbidden.
        7. The supply of flags hoisted by State Services in general is effected
by them on the basis of specifications laid down by the Minister of the
Interior. During the first application of present law, the supply of flags to
the said services may be undertaken by the Minister of the Interior. The flags
flown on the buildings of Legal Entities of Public Law, Local Government
Corporations and Public Utility Corporations or Enterprises will be
manufactured in accordance with the aforesaid specifications.
                              Article 2
                        Use of National Flag
        1. The National Flag shall remain hoisted on its pole each day from
8.00 a.m. till sunset on the buildings of:
        a) The Presidency of the Republic and the Greek Parliament
        b) Ministries
        c) Ambassadorial and Consular Authorities
        d) Public, Municipal and Community establishments defined by decision
of the Minister for the Interior.
        e) Educational Institutions and Establishments in general during the
School term. The details regarding the raising and lowering of the flag on the
buildings of these institutions shall be specified by decision of the Minister
of National Education and Religion.
        f) On Units, Establishments and Camps of the Army, the Navy and the Air
Force.
        g) On Warships.
        h) On Allied Headquarters to which the staff of the Armed Forces serve.
        i) On Merchant ships.
        2. The National Flag can also be raised:
        a) During National or Public Mourning events by individuals on houses,
shops, offices, enterprises and other places intended for the exercise of a
profession following a decision reached by the Minister of the Interior.
        b) During the staging of athletic events, meetings and ceremonies at
the places designated for them, following a decision reached by the respective
Prefect.