Lebanon’s flag (7 December 1943) is red‑white‑red with a green cedar centred, touching the red bands. Red signifies sacrifice; white snow and peace; the cedar endurance and holiness. Law fixes a 2:3 ratio, mandates that the cedar touch the red fields, and codifies artwork, shades, protocol, and dignified retirement. The banner dates to independence from the French Mandate.
Lebanon’s flag, adopted on 7 December 1943 during the final phase of the French Mandate, is a tricolour of red, white, and red with a green cedar tree centred on the white band. The tree—Arz al‑Rabb, the famed cedar of Lebanon—touches both red bands by law, a detail that distinguishes the design.
Adoption
and Law The independence parliament adopted the flag days before the release of arrested leaders in the “Independence Intifada,” setting a 2:3 ratio and the requirement that the cedar touch the red bands. Subsequent legislation and standards documents defined cedar proportions, trunk and branch stylisation, and colour references to ensure recognisability and to prevent overly naturalistic or overly abstract depictions.
Symbolism Red bands denote the blood of martyrs and national sacrifice; the white band the snow of Mount Lebanon and peace; the evergreen cedar endurance, holiness, and rootedness in the land. The tree’s contact with the red stripes symbolises continuous life between sacrifice and peace.
Protocol
and Usage Rules govern respectful handling, sunrise‑to‑sunset display unless illuminated, precedence with foreign flags, placement on vehicles and rostrums, and half‑masting by decree. Worn or damaged flags are retired with dignity. Variants for military and presidential standards adapt the cedar within shields while preserving the core geometry.
Continuity The flag has remained stable since 1943, serving as a unifying mark in a complex confessional landscape. Ministries, schools, and embassies use approved cedar artwork to prevent drift in shape or shade; public campaigns remind suppliers that the cedar must touch the red bands to comply with law.