Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 5 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Originally Posted By: Faldage
Anyone know how many national flags have the southern cross on them?


so, why did NZ opt to use only four stars where the others all use five?

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
Originally Posted By: LukeJavan8
And more in the article containing the aforementioned
5 national flags:

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/southern-cross/1

which lists several more!

Flags that fly the Southern Cross

Depicted either as four or five stars, the Southern Cross features on the national flags of New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. It also appears on the Australian flags of Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory, and on the flag of Chile’s Magallanes region. The flag of the Southern Common Market, the South American trading bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, also depicts the constellation.

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
Originally Posted By: tsuwm
so, why did NZ opt to use only four stars where the others all use five?

Somewhere, the flag designer needed glasses ?

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,539
Likes: 1
"Under the Southern Cross" is the motto of the US Army 23rd Infantry Division, nicknamed Americal, for "Americans in New Caledonia" where it was first commissioned in 1942. See their emblem/crest here , along with more information about its history than you want to know, or to be reminded of.

By a curious quirk, the Division's museum is located about two miles down the road from my home.

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Good site, interesting, I am going to spend some time there,
thanks.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
so, why did NZ opt to use only four stars where the others all use five?

It was an option for consideration at the time but it was decided that the four stars could also be interpreted as compass points. confused

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
and our Australian flag was born in 1901, when Federation occurred. The Flag denotes our global position by the use of the Southern Cross. The brightest star in the Southern Hemisphere. The Federation Star (sometimes referred to as the Commonwealth Star) directly under the Union Jack has seven points representing the States and Territories of Australia.

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Originally Posted By: olly
so, why did NZ opt to use only four stars where the others all use five?

It was an option for consideration at the time but it was decided that the four stars could also be interpreted as compass points. confused


And in the days when ships used the stars for guidance,
that is a really interesting point for a flag. Thanks.
I really like the way the red stands out.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Originally Posted By: Candy
and our Australian flag was born in 1901, when Federation occurred. The Flag denotes our global position by the use of the Southern Cross. The brightest star in the Southern Hemisphere. The Federation Star (sometimes referred to as the Commonwealth Star) directly under the Union Jack has seven points representing the States and Territories of Australia.



But not the Federal Capital Territory???


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956

And in the days when ships used the stars for guidance


In the Cook Islands where I am from Celestial navigation is alive and well.

Page 5 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 1,273 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,539
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5