A national parade

Did you know the symbolism behind these unique national flags?

A country’s flag is a visual representation of an entire nation, and a symbol that unifies all those who belong to it. While most flags are easily recognizable, they often share common elements such as colors, designs, or meanings. Consider Poland and Indonesia, or Belgium and Germany.

Although flags from the same region or countries with a shared history may have similarities, some flags are so unique that they could never be mistaken for something else. Let’s have a look at some of them!

This South Asian country, located between China and India, is known for being home to Mount Everest, much of the Himalayas, and as the birthplace of Buddhism. But Nepal is also known for another distinctive feature: its flag.

The Nepali flag shares its red, white, and blue colors with other Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, but its uniqueness comes from its shape, as Nepal is the only country in the world without a rectangular flag. Instead, it’s formed by two joined pennants (or triangular banners). A sun and a crescent moon symbolize the hope for the country’s longevity.

Mozambique’s flag features three horizontal stripes—green, black, and gold—separated by thin white lines. On the left side, it has a red triangle. Up until now, not so different from many other flags. However, the red triangle contains several symbols: a yellow five-pointed star, a book, and, crossing over them, a gun (specifically an AK-47) and a hoe.

Each of these symbols has a particular meaning: the star symbolizes the country’s solidarity with the world, the book represents education, the hoe, agriculture, and the gun, the nation’s defence. However, some political parties have pushed for the gun to be removed as a symbol.

The Republic of Kiribati is a small island nation located in the Micronesia region. Composed of a series of atolls and one coral island, it lies where the equator meets the 180th meridian, placing it across the northern, southern, eastern, and western hemispheres.

Kiribati’s flag features several national symbols: the upper half is red, and it showcases a golden bird—a symbol of freedom and mastery of the sea—flying over a rising sun. The lower half is blue with three wavy white stripes, representing the Pacific Ocean and the country’s main archipelagos, while the 17 rays of the sun represent Kiribati’s 17 islands.

The flag of Wales stands out from other European flags because of its prominent dragon. It is also one of only three national flags to feature this mythical creature, the other two being Malta and Bhutan. The Y Ddraig Goch (red dragon) is depicted in a passant attitude—heraldic terminology for "striding with a raised paw"—over a green and white background, colors associated with the House of Tudor.

Where does the dragon come from? The Welsh have always used the dragon as a symbol for their leaders, and a red dragon defeating the enemies of Wales appears in many tales. The dragon is also linked to the Arthurian legend and the prophecy of King Arthur’s return to restore the island to the Celtic Britons.

Purple is a color present in very few national flags (four, to be precise), and Dominica’s flag uses it in the most evident way. This Caribbean nation’s banner has a green field crossed by a vertical and a horizontal band, each featuring yellow, black, and white stripes.

At the center, a red circle displays a Sisserou parrot surrounded by ten green stars. The Sisserou parrot, Dominica’s national bird, has dark purple feathers on its chest and head, which are represented on the flag. This species is found only on the island and is considered critically endangered.

Known as the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana’s flag stands out from other South American banners for its use of triangular shapes—one at the hoist and one extending across the flag—an element more commonly seen in Caribbean and Central American flags (e.g., Cuba, Saint Lucia, Jamaica).

The colors of Guyana’s flag are deeply symbolic: red, gold, green, black, and white represent zeal, mineral wealth, agriculture, endurance, and the rivers that give the country its name, as Guyana means "land of many waters."

One of only three national flags featuring a dragon, Bhutan’s banner has a meaning closely tied to the country’s name. In the Dzongkha language, Bhutan is called Druk Yul, meaning "The Thunder Dragon Kingdom," a title also bestowed upon its monarch, the Dragon King.

Bhutan’s flag is divided diagonally into two fields, one yellow and one orange, symbolizing the civil authority of the king and the country's Buddhist heritage. Over the dividing line, the white dragon (a symbol of purity) stretches across both fields, emphasizing the equal importance of civil and religious matters. The dragon holds jewels that represent the nation’s wealth and security, and its snarling mouth signifies the defense of the country by its deities.

The Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of Kenya are two distinct nations, so they naturally have different national flags. However, they share one notable feature: both flags display a traditional shield at the center.

Eswatini’s flag has three blue and red bands, separated by yellow strips. In the center, two spears are covered by a sideways Nguni shield, traditionally made from ox skin and reinforced with a staff. On the other hand, Kenya’s flag is divided into three bands of black, red, and green, separated by white stripes. A Masai shield over two crossed spears at its center represents the defense of the country and its traditions.

The flag of this Melanesian country contains several symbolic elements representing its people. It’s diagonally divided into red and black fields, two colors that Papua New Guinea tribes have used traditionally. On the lower black triangle, five white stars form the Southern Cross, one of the most important constellations in the Southern hemisphere.

The upper red triangle showcases the national bird, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise, in yellow. Fun fact: Papua New Guinea’s flag was designed through a national contest, and the winning entry was submitted by a 15-year-old girl.

This island’s flag has a unique element: it features the shape of the country at its center. The only other national flag to do this is Kosovo’s flag, though Kosovo is not recognized as a sovereign state by all countries.

Intended to represent the harmony between Cypriots of Greek and Turkish descent, the flag’s creators intentionally avoided colors and symbols associated with either group, opting instead for a white background with the island’s silhouette in copper over two green olive branches.

Tasty taters

Pass the potato: 10 popular potato dishes across the globe

Potatoes may be native to South America, but since their introduction to Europe by the Spaniards in the 16th century, they have made their way into kitchens around the world and become a staple in numerous cuisines due to their ease of cultivation, nutritional value, and the multitude of ways in which the can be cooked. So, let’s take a look at 10 potato-based dishes from around the world.

Causa Limeña (also known simply as Causa) is one of many potato-based dishes found in the birthplace of the potato. It is believed that the name comes from the Quechua word kawsay, which means "life" or "life-giver," due to the importance of the potato in Andean cultures.

Dating back to pre-Spanish times, this mini-casserole is made from layers of mashed potato stuffed with eggs, olives, yellow pepper, avocado, and sometimes tuna, chicken, or other types of meat, and typically served cold, often with a dollop of mayonnaise on top.

Originally made with just semolina and eggs, this dumpling recipe evolved with the spread of potatoes across Europe, incorporating them as one of its main components. The name comes from the word gnocco, which means "little ball."

Gnocchi are extremely versatile and can be made from various ingredients, but the potato version has become one of the most recognizable and popular across the world.

A staple of the American casserole repertoire, funeral potatoes get their name from their frequent appearance at post-funeral dinners, though they are also popular at potlucks and other social gatherings.

A cousin to the potato gratin, funeral potatoes are made with chopped or shredded potatoes, cheese, and pantry staples like onions, sour cream, and cream-based soups. They’re typically topped with crushed potato chips or cornflakes for a signature crunchy finish.

This dish is best known around the world as "Russian salad," and is believed to have been created in the 19th century by Russian chef Lucien Olivier.

There are several versions of the recipe, but they all include diced boiled potatoes, carrots, dill pickles, and a mayonnaise-based dressing, with other vegetables and meat cuts being optional.

Samosas, meaning "triangular pastry" in Hindustani and Urdu, are filled pastries eaten in several Asian countries, with variations that include vegetables, meat, cheese, and even sweet fillings.

Indian samosas, in particular, are known for using potatoes as one of their main ingredients, especially in regions with large vegetarian populations. They are typically fried and served with chutney.

One of the most recognizable Canadian dishes, poutine originates from the French-speaking region of Quebec, though its exact origins remain unclear. Some say its name comes from Québécois slang, meaning "mess."

The dish consists of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and brown gravy, usually beef- or chicken-based. It is best prepared just before serving to prevent the curds from drying out and the fries from becoming soggy.

Potatoes were introduced to Africa in the 19th century—much later than on other continents—but they have still become a staple due to their accessibility and versatility. One example of this is their presence in regional cuisines like that of Kenya.

Bhajias are a popular Kenyan street food, heavily influenced by Indian railroad workers. The name comes from a Hindi word meaning "fried vegetables," which has been adopted into Swahili. They consist of sliced potatoes seasoned with a mix of Kenyan and Indian spices that are then battered and fried.

A traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish, kugel is eaten in several Eastern European countries such as Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. Its name means "ball" or "sphere" in Yiddish, as kugel was originally baked in a round or ring-shaped form.

Predating the introduction of potatoes, kugel began as a bread-like dish with many variations. One of the most well-known modern versions is potato kugel, made by combining grated potatoes, onions, eggs, flour or matzo meal, oil, and spices, then baking the mixture in a casserole dish.

Jeon is a type of pancake or fritter that is very common in Korean cuisine and popular for its versatility—almost anything can be made into jeon. Potatoes (gamja in Korean) are no exception.

But what makes gamjajeon special is that, unlike most other types of jeon, it doesn’t require a batter to hold the ingredients together. It’s typically made with just grated potatoes, a pinch of salt, and oil, then pan-fried until crisp and golden. It is often served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce and vinegar.

As the introducers of potatoes in Europe, Spanish cuisine has many potato-based dishes, the most famous being the Spanish omelette. However, patatas bravas is also a staple, usually served as a tapa in bars and restaurants. The name means "brave potatoes," referring to the spiciness of the sauce.

The dish consists of cubed fried potatoes served warm with a spicy brava sauce made from paprika, cayenne, and olive oil, thickened with a cornstarch slurry. In some regions of Spain, tomato is also added to the sauce.