August 29, 2008
· Filed under Decorative flags · Tagged adventure travel, Animal Flags, associations, banners, community, cultures, ddr, Decorative, Decorative flag, employed, ems, finland, flag, garden, highway30, Holiday Flags, homes, Horse Flags, Sea, summer, Valentines, vexillology
Decorative flag is a piece of woven cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used symbolically for signalling or identification. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.
The first flags were used to assist military coordination on battlefields and flags have evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification, especially in environments where communication is similarly challenging (such as the maritime environment where semaphore is used). National flags are potent patriotic symbols with varied wide-ranging interpretations, often including strong military associations due to their original and ongoing military uses. Flags are used in messaging, advertising, or for other decorative purposes, though at this less formal end the distinction between a flag and a simple cloth banner is blurred. The study of flags is known as vexillology, from the Latin vexillum meaning flag or banner.
August 12, 2008
· Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged American Flag, colorful, communication, country flags, cultural, Decorative, Decorative house, fall flags, flags, Garden flags, hanging, Holiday Flags, home, house, house flags, military flags, Patriotic, purchase, sports flags, yard falgs
When the weather is dull, and the yard is drab, a house flag not only breaks up the humdrum appearance, it can be a promise of better things to come. Late winter is brightened with beautiful pastel designs for Easter. Early Spring bursts onto the scene with bunches of daffodils, and baskets of blooming tulips. Summer is greeted by kittens gamboling through a painted garden, or by puppies tripping over each other. And don’t forget winter! When all else is white, a flag sporting seasonal messages or characters such as snowmen, can signal that you’re still celebrating, despite the cold.
The selection of patterns and themes in house flags is virtually endless. You can purchase flags to be hung for weeks or months at a time, such as those which go with a season, or you can salute a special birthday, graduate, wedding, or new arrival. There are a wide variety of decorative pictures and images within each category as well, with literally hundreds of colorful flags for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and the Fourth of July.
The majority of decorative house flags are made out of nylon, and depending on the size (22”x 43” is average), may be fixed with grommets, or tabs for hanging on a pole. Some special commemorative flags, like those for the Confederacy, first States, or the original Elizabeth Ross American flag, are hand made from cotton, with each section sewn individually, and some portions, embroidered. These tend to be not as durable as the nylon, and should be hung only for the most special occasions, and for brief periods.
Care instructions for your house flag, should be included when you purchase it. As a rule of thumb, washing flags by hand in mild detergent, then rolling in a towel and drying flat, is preferable to machine washing, even if the manufacturer says it is safe. Depending on how your flag’s design was created, e.g. screening, hand-painting, deep dyeing, you may want to consider how long you will leave it hanging at a time, or whether it would be better to put the bracket and pole in a location that doesn’t receive full, constant sun.
Don’t live in a house? Not a problem. Decorative house flags come in special “mini” sizes with appropriate brackets and poles that are suitable for hanging on condos, or the patio of an apartment.
Not only are colorful house flags a delightful addition to your own home, they make great gifts, for friends, family and new neighbors!
