A red field with the blue rectangle on the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing theSouthern Cross of four white larger five-pointed stars and the smaller star in the center.
Theflag ofSamoa (Samoan:fu‘a o Sāmoa) was adopted on 24 February 1949. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in thecanton. The blue rectangle bears theSouthern Cross, which is a common symbol on the flags of countries in the Southern Hemisphere, where the constellation can be seen.[1][2] The flag was originally designed in 1948 byTupua Tamasese Meaʻole andMalietoa Tanumafili II, who would later become the heads of state of Samoa when it gained independence in 1962.[3][4]
The flag is officially defined by the Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994.[5] When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete.[6] Those whodeface the flag or who willfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.[7]
Prior to theFirst World War,Samoa was a part of theGerman colonial empire. German colonies used the flag of theImperial Colonial Office, which was the tricolourflag of the German Empire defaced with theImperial Eagle. The Imperial German government intended to introduce specific flags for the colonies (also based on the tricolour) and several proposals were created, but the war and the subsequent loss of all overseas territories prevented their official adoption.New Zealand occupiedGerman Samoa in 1914 and officially gained control of the territory in 1919.
From the capture by New Zealand forces on 29 August 1914, a defaced ensign with three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly were used.
The initial variation of the current Samoan flag adopted in 1948 depicted only four stars; a fifth smaller star was added to the flag in 1949.[3]
^"W. Samoa's Flag Approved In NZ".Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XIX, no. 8. 1 March 1949. p. 20.Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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