Country flags (where to buy, tips, etc)

[starryxskies]

Not sure if this question is ridics or not but I'm wondering where everyone gets their flags. I'm going to be going to my first international event later this season and really want to hold a flag to show some support
I'm assuming buying them online is the best and cheaper option? There are so many different sites online so it would be more comfortable to use sites that maybe other GS members have purchased from. If anyone would like to share some of the sites they use, that would be great!

Does everyone usually get the nylon ones? I see so many audience members have autographs/signatures on their flags...don't sharpies fade on nylon after a while? =/ I'm completely clueless about these things.

[Olympia]

What an interesting question! I never even thought about that. I have a couple of tiny flags that you'd need a magnifying glass to see, but I've never had to buy anything but an American flag full-size. Not that anyone asked, but the flags I have are the flags of Wales and Scotland--Wales has an imposing red dragon on it--which I couldn't use for any skater except maybe the Kerrs and--where does Steven Cousins come from again? He sounds as if he has a Welsh accent.

Anyway, I do hope you find a place to get flags! I know it will make your viewing experience even more exciting.

[Tonichelle]

I *think* there's a site like flags.com (not sure that's the actual link)... if you google you should find it...

[dorispulaski]

There are a lot of reasonably priced country flags on Amazon (I just checked). Search Germany flag for example. ($6.63 for a 3foot by 5 foot flag)

For whatever reason Germany flag gives better results as a search than German flag, and Ireland flag vs. Irish flag (this later gives all sorts of school flags like Notre Dame as well as flags for Ireland)

[Tonichelle]

I can see that... it's a country's flag... so "Ireland Flag" works more in my mind... though it *sounds* better to say Irish flag... etc.

[iluvtodd]

I *think* Steven Cousins is Welsh.

I bought my little Japanese flag @ 2003 Worlds (to cheer on Takeshi, Shizuka, Fumie, etc.). A friend of Chinese descent bought me a Chinese flag from our city's Chinatown so I could cheer on Shen & Zhao when they were in SOI (too bad I didn't think to buy one @ 2003 Worlds).

Other flags I have from getting locally @ particular events (US - Independence Day activities, Israel - Israel Independence Day parade), or traveling to other countries (Canada, Czech Republic), so having a website for ordering international flags will be very helpful in the future!

[dorispulaski]

This inspired me to buy a Polish flag for each of my kids at Amazon. They are polyester; the more expensive ones are nylon. The cheapest I saw was a Swedish flag on sale 3'by 5' for 99 cents! That's cheap enough you could add one to an order and see how autographing it went. You could try different pens on it.

I checked out the flags dot com site and they were selling very sturdy (and expensive) flags for flying from your flag pole in a hurricane sort of flag.

[starryxskies]

Thanks for all the input!
I'm glad this thread was not too crazy to others haha

I'm glad other people know more about this than I do. Canadians are not so patriotic haha

[Tonichelle]

Canadians are not so patriotic haha

I'm not Canadian, but I have to whole heartedly disagree on this one!

[starryxskies]

I'm not Canadian, but I have to whole heartedly disagree on this one!

Hmm, I don't know to counter this one. I guess it depends on the people but I guess a more accurate claim is we're not as patriotic as our American neighbours. No one has the flag in their yard and even business don't bother, whereas you see the American flag every kilometer. After the middle grade, I don't think anyone even knows the words of our anthem. But of course there's the group of people that love their Canada sweaters haha so I guess there's a good divide.

Canada mostly conisists of ethnic groups and a lot of ethic groups associate themselves with their roots. No one really ever says "I'm Canadian" or even "Chinese-Canadian" this is what I've observed. But I'm glad we appear patriotic in others eyes haha. This is just me spitting out my own nonsense .

[Tonichelle]

Hmm, I don't know to counter this one. I guess it depends on the people but I guess a more accurate claim is we're not as patriotic as our American neighbours. No one has the flag in their yard and even business don't bother, whereas you see the American flag every kilometer. After the middle grade, I don't think anyone even knows the words of our anthem. But of course there's the group of people that love their Canada sweaters haha so I guess there's a good divide.

Canada mostly conisists of ethnic groups and a lot of ethic groups associate themselves with their roots. No one really ever says "I'm Canadian" or even "Chinese-Canadian" this is what I've observed. But I'm glad we appear patriotic in others eyes haha. This is just me spitting out my own nonsense .

Weird, my take on the Canadians on this board are quite patriotic to my eyes... Canadian mushers that come to AK for the different races also have a lot of Canada pride...

and the hockey fans know all the words to the anthem - as do most olympic athletes and fans...

in the US there's a lot of flag flying and patriotism, but I'd say Canada's on par with us in patriotic show!

[Olympia]

I think the meaning of the flag is very different in the U.S. from what it is in most other countries. It has a profound significance that goes even beyond general patriotism, it seems to me. For example, I don't know of any other country that has a pledge of allegiance directly to the flag itself. (The pledge goes on to say "And to the republic for which it stands," but it starts being addressed to the flag.)

Additionally (and I don't know whether this is true of other countries), there are all sorts of rules about how to treat the flag respectfully: for example, you're not supposed to step on it, or to let it touch the ground or trail in water. In fact, you're really not supposed to keep it flying after sundown or in bad weather, though a lot of people and businesses disregard that one. To store a flag, there's a special way to fold it; you don't just fold it in two or roll it up. Here's an ironic point: with all the anger over flag-burning in this country (it's sometimes done as a form of protest and provocation), the proper way to dispose of a flag that has become torn or damaged is to burn it.

I wonder whether any other countries have as much ritual surrounding their flags. Does anyone know of other examples?

[Tonichelle]

you can keep it up at night if it's properly lit... and you can fly an all weather flag in the rain. the burning of a damaged flag is ceremonial, and not done disrespectfully.

[rvi5]

Some people keep their emotions bottled-up, then eventually it will burst out. I think Canadian patriotism is similar. It may be less in-your-face during day-to-day activities, but give us an excuse and it explodes. Wasn't anyone watching the Vancouver Olympics?

[Olympia]

And enjoying any minute of it, rvi5. Heck, I was feeling patriotic for Canada during the Olympics. You guys had ever reason to feel wonderful, from the opening ceremonies on.