Flag of Timor-Leste
A red flag with two triangles at the left: a yellow one, and on top of it a smaller black one holding a white five-pointed star.
At a glance
- Adopted
- May 20, 2002first raised on 28 November 1975; restored as the national flag at independence in 2002
- Shape (height : width)
- 1:2
- Capital
- Dili
- Continent
- Asia
- Colours
- red
- yellow
- black
- white
What it means
- Yellow: according to the constitution, the traces of colonialism; an earlier draft said the country's wealth
- Black: the darkness of ignorance (obscurantism) that must be overcome
- Red: the struggle for national liberation
- White star: peace, and the light that guides the way
Where it came from
The flag is said to have been designed in a hurry by Natalino Leitao, a fighter of the independence movement FRETILIN, just before independence from Portugal was declared on 28 November 1975. It was based on the FRETILIN party flag. Leitao was later killed during the Indonesian invasion.
History
Under Portuguese rule only the Portuguese flag was used. Just days after the 1975 declaration, Indonesia invaded, and until 1999 flying any flag except Indonesia's was banned.
After a period under United Nations administration, the 1975 flag was brought back and raised at the independence celebrations on 20 May 2002. The constitution describes it in detail.
Fun facts
- The story goes that the flag was designed in one night, just before independence was declared in 1975.
- The constitution says the star should be tilted, but many flags, even at the 2002 ceremony, show it standing straight.
- Many flags use the long 1:2 shape, perhaps because they were made in Australia, where that shape is standard.
- After independence, every village in the country received its own copy of the new flag in a special ceremony.
Easy to mix up with
Cuba: Cuba also has a red triangle with a white star, but its triangle is red and the rest is blue and white stripes
Mozambique: Mozambique has a red triangle with a yellow star, a book and a rifle, and green, black and yellow stripes
Questions
What does the flag of Timor-Leste look like?
A red flag with two triangles at the left: a yellow one, and on top of it a smaller black one holding a white five-pointed star.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of Timor-Leste mean?
Yellow: according to the constitution, the traces of colonialism; an earlier draft said the country's wealth; Black: the darkness of ignorance (obscurantism) that must be overcome; Red: the struggle for national liberation; White star: peace, and the light that guides the way.
When was the flag of Timor-Leste adopted?
The current flag of Timor-Leste was adopted on May 20, 2002. (first raised on 28 November 1975; restored as the national flag at independence in 2002)
What colours are on the flag of Timor-Leste?
The flag of Timor-Leste uses red, yellow, black and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of Timor-Leste?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Cuba. Cuba also has a red triangle with a white star, but its triangle is red and the rest is blue and white stripes
Famous landmarks in Timor-Leste
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)