The Flag of Lebanon - the Rigtheous shall grow like a Cedar

The flag of Lebanon has three horizontal bands of color. Red is the top and bottom band with a doublewide band of white in the middle.

A green cedar tree is centered in the white band with its top touching the upper red band and its base touching the lower red band.

The design of the flag of Lebanon started with the French tricolor. The cedar was drawn on the white banner of the French flag. They then removed the blue and moved to vertical stripes to a horizontal position.

A drawing of flag of Lebanonn was originally done with colored pencils in November 1943. The two red bands at the top and bottom symbolize their martyrdom. The white band is the Lebanese snow-capped mountain peaks.

The green cedar tree characterizes Lebanon from its birth. It is a country to build temples and ships, which are supposed to be immortality and tolerance.

Others say that the flag of Lebanon’s colors represent the martyrs’ blood for the red color.

Still others say the red is the blood of the victims of independence against the Ottomans, the French, and the rest of colonizers.

The white snow of holiness and eternity is the representation of the white color. It can also represent the purity of their cause.

The tree is actually a cedar tradition that has been connected to Lebanon for many years.

The Bible says “the righteous flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

History of the Flag of Lebanon

Over 2,000 years ago, Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians.

This country fell to Alexander the Great and has been under the Greek and Roman rule. Lebanon was a refuge for Christians during the Crusades.

The people of this are were great traders. They created an alphabet and many new inventions. The area was divided in 1098 into two kingdoms. One was Tripoli and the other Jerusalem.

A Muslim re-conquest began around 1197 and all of Lebanon fell under the control of Egypt.

In 1516, the Ottomans come into power and establish autonomy for the region.

A local dynasty, called the Maans, ruled the Lebanon area.

The Ottomans remained in control until a civil war in 1858.

The French and Istanbul intervened and establish a Christian province.

Fearing more war, many Lebanese immigrate to the Americas.

During World War I, Lebanon became the center of war between the Ottomans and the British.

In 1926, Lebanon became a French protectorate.

In 1939, Lebanon is part of the French administration. The French tricolor flies over the area, so for a brief period the French flag was an official flag of Lebanon.

During World War II, Lebanon is again occupied by both the Free French forces and the British.

In 1944, the French government in London proclaims Lebanon a free independent country.

The Lebanonese adopt their new red and white banded flag with their cedar tree symbol.

Lebanon finally finds true independence in 1946 when the last French troops go home.

Christians fill most of the government position in Lebanon. After the establishment of Israel, many Palestinians move to Lebanon.

Over the next few years, there was constant fighting with coups, civil wars of the Muslims against the Christians.

To try to ease the situation and with agreement from the Arab League, Syria establishes its position in the country of Lebanon.

In 1978, Israel invaded the southern edge of Lebanon. Their move was to put an end to the invasion into Israel from PLO bases just across the border.

They invaded into Beirut and again into southern Lebanon in 1982.

Fights, blockades and mediation have been constant in the area for many years.

In 1988, Christians and Muslims formed a new government. A new constitution is installed which gives the majority of the power to the Muslim population.

In 1990, a Syrian backed Lebanese army comes into power and peace is again restored. In 1992, a new election is held for a new National Assembly.

Still more fighting occurs with the Israelis before peace comes again to the area.

To rebuild the country, the United States pledged $3 billion.

In October 1998, General Emile Laboud was elected the new President.