Flag of Switzerland

The roots of the Swiss square flag with the traditional white isosceles cross on a red background date back to the Middle Ages. At that time, Switzerland was a part of the Holy Roman Empire and thus the cross symbolizes Christianity and red color refers to the blood of Christian martyrs. In the 13th century, several Swiss administrative units had joined together and then succeeded in gaining independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Therefore, the flag may evoke independence and democracy. As Switzerland is known for its long term political neutrality, the flag may also symbolize peace and a safe asylum. An interesting fact is that the exact dimensions of the cross or shade of red are not predetermined, so the versions of the flag may slightly differ.

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