Heraldry and Vexillology Thread

Fimm

Anybody else love flags or coats of arms?

What is your favorite flag?
What is your most hated flag?
What do you think about your country's flag?
Does your town or state have a symbol? What do you think about it?
Do you like heraldry?
Do you have your own coat of arms? Is it official?
Have you made your own flags?
Do you collect flags?

This is a thread for all that stuff.

Fimm

For starters: I sometimes like to design flags and coats of arms for fun.

My latest one is the coat of arms of the fictional Porkkala Raion of the Leningrad Oblast.

For context: the Porkkala peninsula in Finland was leased to the Soviet Union at the end of the Continuation War in 1944 for 50 years, where the Red Navy set up a naval base. In real life the area was returned to Finland in 1956, but I wanted to imagine an alternate world where the handover didn’t happen.

The real world coat of arms of Kirkkonummi municipality, where the Porkkala peninsula is, was adopted in 1956. The symbolism is very simple: Blue and white, and the wavy line symbolizes the sea. The cross symbolizes the St. Michael’s Church in Kirkkonummi. And the boat symbolizes the region’s boating traditions.

Now for the alternate world’s coat of arms, I essentially mixed the real world naval ensign of the Soviet Union with the coat of arms of Kirkkonummi. The red star and the inverted colors obviously reference the Red Navy ensign. I kept the boat because of the maritime element, but also because a simple fishing boat can serve as a reference to the peasantry, which I imagine is something Soviet heraldists would be into. I also changed the shape of the shield to be more in line with Russian heraldic tradition.

This was just a rambling example of what heraldry/vexillology can be like if you’re very into it.
I like doing stuff like this because it combines graphic design, symbolism, history and creative writing.

Gigachad

I put up my celtic cross for St Patrick's day and my roman flag for Ides of March.

Fimm

Gigachad
Sweet. Although a rather funny combination.
Nickname
I share your opinion, which coincidentally happens to be the correct opinion. Good heraldry should tell a story.
I like it even more when the coat of arms and flag compliment each other. Or better yet, if they're the same thing.

Nickname

I really like flags that have the country's emblem in them. I don't get the hate towards flags with emblems or intricate designs. Flags shouldn't have a "standardized flat design" like what redditors want to believe. Every country should be free from how they express their nations. I really like Spain's flag for how it effectively tells the nation's history through its coat of arms.

I do prefer the coat of arms of the House of Trastámara though. I really like the eagle at the back of the shield, looks so cool

Fantasy

In my mind an intricate flag that would be harder to replicate would be a sign your country/region/whatever is above the basics. The minute small details in emblems and such is very cool. Not a flag person though.

Gigachad

Fimm
I don't make the holidays, I just fly the flags for them.

One thing that sucks about the US is that we have seals instead of heraldry and they suck. They tell a story, yes but the herald just looks better. More regal, important, or monarchial.

Fimm

Gigachad
There are some good ones. Mainly the ones that include heraldic elements or just are the coat of arms.

North Dakota's is neat. The symbolism is rich.

I also love the symbol of the CIA. I think it's a great combination of simple but traditional heraldry with mundane goverment seal...ery

And if you'd like to see the US be more heraldic, someone made this:

Gigachad

Fimm
My state should have Buffalo and wheat. I know we're known for sunflowers but other states grow more than us. That or aircraft. We have 5 major airline manufacturing plants in my city alone along with the airbase. I do like most of the designs though. I'm just picky about mine.

My states not bad. There is no interesting history here. It was a frontier state. Then a pass through state on the way west. Then a pass through state for cattle drives. It is the old west here.

And it's flat. Like extremely flat. Causes terrible flooding. And tornados are common. You tell who's a tourist because when the sirens go off the locals go outside to see the show. The tourists freak out.

MO

This has to be the worst Romano-British flag attempt I've ever seen, it's full of Pagan imagery when we know the Post-Romano British were crazy Christian.

I like how the Ukarine flag references this long gone dynasty, how the Russian flag is a symbol of Slavs in general, how the German flag goes back to revolts like 200 years ago.