Bavaria (German: Bayern), a federal land of Germany, has two official flags, both white and blue: the lozengy one (Rautenflagge), and the horizontal bicolour (Streifenflagge). The lozengy flag must have at least 21 lozenges (including the incomplete ones), with the upper hoist being white.
Bavaria does not have distinct state and civil flags. The lozengy flag defaced with the Bavarian coat of arms is the de facto used civil flag, even though it has no official status.
Symbolism[]
According to the German heraldic tradition, the colours of the flag reflect the colours of the coat of arms. They are associated with the Wittelsbach family that ruled Bavaria. Probably the colours reflect the Wittelsbachs' family name: Wittel — "white", Bach — "brook".
The colours are popularly associated with a line of the Bavarian anthem: die Farben deines Himmels, Weiß und Blau ("the colours of your sky, white and blue").
History[]
The exact origin of the lozenges is disputed. They are believed to be representative of the lakes and rivers of Bavaria or perhaps the sky, as in the Bavarian anthem, which says in English, "the colors of His sky/heaven, white and blue". The flag most likely also comes from the Duchy of Bavaria flag from 1505-1623.
Both flags are historically associated with the royal Bavarian Wittelsbach family, which ruled Bavaria from 1180 to 1918.
Nickname[]
- Weissblau (White and Blue)
Trivia[]
- If this flag was turned upside-down, it would look like the flag of Assen, Netherlands.
References[]
 States of Germany |
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