Each national flag around the world holds a magnificent history and meaning behind it. All national flags deserve respect, but when it comes to patriotism and the utmost respect for the official flag, we have to mention Turkey.
In this blog post, you’ll learn all the amazing facts and legends about the Turkish flag. We’ll cover the meaning of the star and crescent and the red color on the national flag of Turkey. If you’re curious, let’s not beat around the bush and get to it!
Page Content 📑
- A Brief History Of The Turkish Flag
- Legends About The Turkish Flag
- The Meaning Of The Turkish Flag
- Does The Turkish Flag Represent Islam?
- What Does The Turkish Flag Mean To Turkish People?
- Fun Facts About The Turkish Flag
- Start Learning Turkish With Ling!
1. A Brief History Of The Turkish Flag
Today, the Turkish flag you know consists of a white five-pointed star and crescent on a red background, but it wasn’t always like that. In fact, several Turkish flags have emerged throughout history, until the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
The Ottoman Empire used a flag very similar to the current one between 1739-1844. It also had a crescent moon and star, but it was an eight-pointed star. However, the Ottoman flag before that one was quite different, as it didn’t have a star. Instead, the Ottoman flag used between 1517-1793 had three crescent moons and three different colors: yellow, green, and red.
2. Legends About The Turkish Flag
There are a couple of legends about how the crescent and star symbols came to be in the Turkish flag. I’ll briefly explain the most famous ones to you:
The First Ottoman Sultan’s Dream
According to the most popular legend, the first Ottoman Sultan, whose name is Osman I, had a dream in which he saw a crescent and star rise from the judge’s chest and descend into his own chest. Then, a tree with huge branches grew out of the sultan’s chest and covered the whole world.
The Battle Of Kosovo
According to another well-known legend, a Turkish soldier saw a reflection of the crescent moon and star on a bloodbath during the battle of Kosovo in 1448.
3. The Meaning Of The Turkish Flag
The Turkish flag design consists of a red background with a white crescent and star in the center. The crescent represents development, and the five-pointed star symbol represents guidance. Together, they symbolize the Turkish people‘s aspiration to strive for progress and enlightenment.
On the other hand, the red color of the flag represents the Turkish people’s courage, patriotism, determination, and love for their country. It is also believed to represent the blood of soldiers who sacrificed themselves in the Turkish Independence.
Overall, the Turkish flag is a source of pride and unity for the Turkish people and is highly respected by all individuals.
4. Does The Turkish Flag Represent Islam?
The short answer is no. While the crescent moon is seen as the symbol of Islam, the modern Turkish flag itself does not represent Islam as a religion.
Historically, the crescent moon and star symbols have been used in various cultural contexts. They have been symbols of Islam for centuries, and they were adopted by the Ottoman Empire as a representation of their Islamic faith.
However, that’s not the case in modern Turkey. When the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923, the new government adopted almost the same flag design as the Ottoman Empire.
It’s true that Turkey is a Muslim-majority country; however, the Turkish flag doesn’t hold official religious connotations in the modern day. The flag represents the Turkish nation and its history and culture, rather than any particular religion.
5. What Does The Turkish Flag Mean To Turkish People?
Turkish people are known to be very patriotic; hence, the Turkish flag means a lot to them. They show love and respect anytime they see the Turkish flag and put it only in the highest locations possible.
The Turkish flag is a symbol of unity, as it is a representation of the Turkish people and their shared cultural heritage. It is a source of pride and patriotism and is often displayed at public events, government buildings, and even homes.
Overall, the Turkish flag is an important national symbol that represents the values and history of the Turkish people, and it is deeply respected and revered by all.
6. Fun Facts About The Turkish Flag
- The Turkish flag is also called “al bayrak” or “al sancak”, which means “the red flag” by Turkish people.
- The red color of the flag represents the blood of Turkish soldiers who died in the Turkish War of Independence.
- The exact shade of red used on the Turkish flag is known as “Turkish red” and is commonly used in other Turkish symbols.
- The Turkish flag regulation, which is also known as the Turkish flag law, dictates that the flag should be displayed at all public buildings and schools, and it is considered a serious offense to disrespect or damage the Turkish flag.
- The only time when the Turkish flag is lowered to half-staff is on November 10 to commemorate Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
- At the funerals of soldiers and police, their coffins are covered with the Turkish flag.
- It is considered very disrespectful if the Turkish flag is left on the ground. If that happens, you’ll see people take it and put it in a higher place.
If you want to learn the Turkish language, don’t look around and download Ling, the best practical language-learning app!
Start Learning Turkish With Ling!
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Before you leave, check out Ling’s Turkish blog weekly to not miss out on new blog articles about the Turkish language and culture!
