For the general public, the most confusing thing about European countries are those with similar tricolor flags. These flags have caused many jokes internationally. In 2015, for example, disagreements erupted between Turkey and Russia, leading some Turks to attempt to storm the Russian embassy in Turkey. However, in hindsight, it turned out that they actually mistook the Dutch flag for the Russian flag, as the Dutch and Russian flags are similar. Why is this confusing situation so common, and why do many countries adopt tricolor flags? There are two main reasons for this: one is the simplicity of the national flag, and the other is the symbolism of the tricolor national flag.
The simplicity of the flag
Of the nearly 200 countries in the world, the vast majority have very simple flags. Simple symbols are easier to remember and spread. The flag is a symbol of the country, and the country needs to ensure that its citizens can easily remember their country's flag, so it is wise to design the flag simple. Of course, some countries choose to use complex flag designs to enhance recognition, such as Brazil. However, most countries are in the early days of statehood and have relatively weak economies, so cost should be considered when designing the flag. In this period, no country used a large area of purple in terms of the color of the flag, because before industrialization, purple pigments were expensive. Newly established states and regimes often did not meet the conditions for intricate designs on national flags. In contrast, the tricolor flag has the advantages of low cost, easy identification, easy memory and dissemination, so it is widely used in Europe.
A cultural symbol of the tricolor flag
However, it is important to note that the tricolor flag is widely used in Europe, while the tricolor flag is rarely adopted in countries outside Europe. The adoption of the tricolor flag by European countries stems largely from their cultural traditions. The tricolor flag originated in the Netherlands, and in the 16th century, the Netherlands, ruled by Spain, designed the prototype of the modern European tricolor flag in order to pursue independence. The flag is made up of orange, white and blue colors, representing courage to resist, freedom and the sea. Influenced by the Netherlands, France also soon designed a tricolor flag, very similar to the French flag today. The flag is made up of blue, white and red colors that represent freedom, equality and fraternity, respectively. As an "old revolutionary area", France has a strong ability to spread culture in Europe, so the French flag has quickly become a model for the flags of many countries in Europe. The colors of the flags of these countries have special significance in their own countries and peoples, for example, the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag represent honesty, loyalty and courage, respectively, and the green, white and red colors of the Italian flag represent hope, purity and sacrifice, respectively. The tricolor flags of Germany, Belgium, Lithuania and other countries each have their own special symbolic meaning.