Why is the flag at half mast? What does it stand for?

Flags flying at half mast, also known as "flying at half mast", is an important etiquette for people to express their condolences. The process is to raise the national flag to the top of the pole, and then drop it from the top to about one-third of the pole.

Flags flying at half mast is an act of the state, which is generally used to express the grief and condolences of the people of the whole country when some important people die, major unfortunate events or serious natural disasters occur. During this period, flags of all public places in China and flags of embassies and consulates abroad should be flown at half mast.

When the flag is lowered at half mast, it must first be raised to the top of the flagpole and then lowered to about one third of the flagpole.

The national flag is usually used at the ceremony of flying at half-mast, but regional flags can also be used, such as People's Republic of China (PRC) flag, Japanese county flags, community flags and school flags. Can be used to fly flags at half mast to mourn.

Flags of Saudi Arabia and Somaliland are not allowed to fly at half mast. The reason is that the flag records the truth, which contains the name of God, so the flag cannot be lowered at half mast.

Extended data:

I. Origin

Flags flying at half mast is a popular way of mourning in the world today. When an important leader of a country dies, flags will be flown at half mast to express condolences to the deceased. This practice was first seen in 16 12. One day, the captain of the British ship "Harz Ise" was unfortunately killed while exploring the channel from northern North America to the Pacific Ocean.

To show respect for the late captain, the crew lowered the flag at half mast to a distance from the top of the flagpole. When the ship sailed into the Thames, people saw its mast flying at half mast. I don't know what this means. When asked, it turned out to be in memory of the dead captain.

By the second half of the17th century, this funeral method had spread to the mainland and was adopted by various countries. It is not difficult to see that the flag has been flown at half mast for nearly 400 years since ancient times.

Second, relevant laws.

Fourteenth when the following people die, the flag will be flown at half mast:

1, President People's Republic of China (PRC), Chairman of NPC Standing Committee, Premier the State Council, chairman of the Central Military Commission.

2. Chairman Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

3. People who have made outstanding contributions to People's Republic of China (PRC).

4. People who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of world peace or human progress.

When an unfortunate incident with particularly heavy casualties or a serious natural disaster causes heavy casualties, the flag can be lowered at half mast to mourn.

Flags will be flown at half-mast in accordance with the provisions of items 3 and 4 of the first paragraph of this article, which shall be decided by the State Council.

According to the provisions of this article, the date and place of the half-mast flag will be decided by the funeral service institutions established by the state or the State Council.

Article 16 When the national flag is hoisted or lowered on a vertical flagpole, it should be hoisted or lowered slowly. When raised, the national flag must be raised to the top of the pole; When lowered, the national flag must not land.

When the flag is lowered at half mast, it should be raised to the top of the pole first, and then lowered to the distance between the top of the flag and the top of the pole, which is one third of the total length of the flagpole.

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