Laos is a country located in Southeast Asia and is officially named as Lao People's Democratic Republic. The history of the Laos flag can be traced back to 1953 when the royal government and the Pathet Lao struggled for political power and the Pathet Lao succeeded by being an alliance of the royal government before taking over the rule.
During this time, the Pathet Lao used the flag design of blue with red stripes at the top and at the bottom and a white disk in the center. This became the national flag of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party wherein the red stripes signified blood shed by the people for their drive to achieve freedom and the color blue representing prosperity and wealth for the people.
In 1951, Prince Souphanouvong organized the Pathet Lao, a Communist independence movement, in North Vietnam. Viet Minh and Pathet Lao forces invaded central Laos, resulting in civil war. By the Geneva Agreements of 1954 and an armistice of 1955, two northern provinces were given to the Pathet Lao; the rest went to the royal regime. Full sovereignty was given to the kingdom by the Paris Agreements of Dec. 29, 1954.
There was a previous design of the national flag which is red with a centerpiece of a triple-headed elephant standing on a pedestal with a parasol at the top of its heads. This design reflected the ancient name of the country as the "Land of a Million Elephants. This flag was used by the royal government before its collapse in 1975.
This flag was used during the monarchial times in Laos (pre-1975). The image was that of the three headed elephant on top of a stand with an umbrella (or parasol) on top. The three-headed elephant image is Buddhist/Hindu in origin. It is called Airavata (or Erawan in Thai and Cambodian). According to Buddhist/Hindu beliefs, the elephant has always been a symbol of greatness, wisdom, and a vehicle.
The Red stripes represent the bloodshed in the country's fight for independence. The blue stands for Laos' wealth and prosperity and the white symbolize unity and justice. Another interpretation of the Laotian flag states the white circle symbolizes the full moon over the blue Mekong River, which runs through and alongside the majority of Laos. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Laos Flag for the future.
During this time, the Pathet Lao used the flag design of blue with red stripes at the top and at the bottom and a white disk in the center. This became the national flag of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party wherein the red stripes signified blood shed by the people for their drive to achieve freedom and the color blue representing prosperity and wealth for the people.
In 1951, Prince Souphanouvong organized the Pathet Lao, a Communist independence movement, in North Vietnam. Viet Minh and Pathet Lao forces invaded central Laos, resulting in civil war. By the Geneva Agreements of 1954 and an armistice of 1955, two northern provinces were given to the Pathet Lao; the rest went to the royal regime. Full sovereignty was given to the kingdom by the Paris Agreements of Dec. 29, 1954.
There was a previous design of the national flag which is red with a centerpiece of a triple-headed elephant standing on a pedestal with a parasol at the top of its heads. This design reflected the ancient name of the country as the "Land of a Million Elephants. This flag was used by the royal government before its collapse in 1975.
This flag was used during the monarchial times in Laos (pre-1975). The image was that of the three headed elephant on top of a stand with an umbrella (or parasol) on top. The three-headed elephant image is Buddhist/Hindu in origin. It is called Airavata (or Erawan in Thai and Cambodian). According to Buddhist/Hindu beliefs, the elephant has always been a symbol of greatness, wisdom, and a vehicle.
The Red stripes represent the bloodshed in the country's fight for independence. The blue stands for Laos' wealth and prosperity and the white symbolize unity and justice. Another interpretation of the Laotian flag states the white circle symbolizes the full moon over the blue Mekong River, which runs through and alongside the majority of Laos. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Laos Flag for the future.
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