Choosing a flag was high on the ‘jobs-to-do’ list for the newly formed National Greek Assembly of Epidorus. The self appointed council comprised a number of nobility, clergy, a handful of ship owners, a couple of very wealthy merchants and a few military men. On January 13th, 1822 the assembly convened to choose a flag for Greece. Unfortunately the group failed to document their reasoning behind the decision to adopt this particular design!

Ever since it has led to much speculation; some suggest the blue and white symbolise Greece’s blue skies against the white surf of the sea, others think it reflects the colours of traditional clothing, particularly ‘vrakes’ the customary dress of sailors. It has been claimed that the number of lines deliberately corresponds with the number of letters in the Greek word for freedom ‘eleftheria’ (Ελευθερία) another idea is that the nine stripes are based on the number of syllables in the national motto ‘Eleftheria i Thanatos’ (Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος) which translates as “freedom or death”. It has even been suggested that the American flag may have influenced the choice? It is, at least, widely accepted that the cross expresses the county’s dedication to the Greek Orthodox faith.

Greek flag day is held on October 27th