FLAG MOTIF · 14
What’s in the Centre? Four Flags Compared
The colour orders look very similar.
But are the centres the same too?
LOOK · FIND · REVEAL
Look at the whole flag, then its centre
Compare the top pair, then the bottom pair. Let your eyes move from the colour bands to the centre.
Looked closely? Reveal the explanation
STEP 1
Start with the colour order
Read the vertical bands from the flagpole side, shown on the left here. Italy and Mexico share green, white and red; Romania and Moldova share blue, yellow and red.
Italy
Green, white and red
Mexico
Green, white and red
Romania
Blue, yellow and red
Moldova
Blue, yellow and red
STEP 2
Now look at the centre
Similar colours can hide a big difference: is there a mark in the centre? The official designs representing a country are called national emblems; the ones on these two flags are coats of arms.
Italy
No coat of arms in the centre.
Mexico
A coat of arms in the centre of the white band.
Romania
No coat of arms in the centre.
Moldova
A coat of arms in the centre of the yellow band.
Italy and Romania have national emblems too. They simply are not placed in the centre of the national flags shown here.
STEP 3
Italy and Mexico
Italy
No coat of arms in the centre.
Mexico
A coat of arms in the centre of the white band.
Follow the green, white and red bands, then pause in the middle of the white one. What changes?
STEP 4
Romania and Moldova
Romania
No coat of arms in the centre.
Moldova
A coat of arms in the centre of the yellow band.
The blue, yellow and red bands share an order. Now check the middle of the yellow band.
STEP 5
Look inside the small designs
Mexico’s coat of arms includes an eagle holding a snake. Moldova’s includes an eagle with a shield on its breast. Can you spot the birds and the smaller shapes? Even a small part of a flag has details to discover.
STEP 6
Did you spot the birds?
Try the same observation on five other countries’ flags. That lesson explores birds beyond Mexico and Moldova.
Three ways to look
① Read the colour order
② Look for a mark in the centre
③ Look inside the small mark
When flags look alike, move your eyes to the centre. A closer look can reveal the difference.
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