THERE’S A whole new meaning to Jamaicans flying the flag. In a fun competition to beat the lockdown blues, it has been revealed that the distinctive black, gold and green flag has been deemed the winner of the World Cup of Flags 2020 event, competing against flags from around the globe.

Jamaica with 50.7 per cent of the 29,193 votes allotted just inched out South Africa, which amassed the remaining 49.3 per cent.

Barbados secured a third-place finish, beating Brazil with 57.7 per cent of the 12,401 votes made in the playoff. The competition was conducted on Twitter, with 64 elimination rounds and voting taking place over six weeks.

So just what do we know about the Jamaican flag’s history?

Hoisted

The Jamaican flag was unfurled and hoisted for the first time at the dramatic hour of midnight on August 5, 1962 as the British flag was being lowered, signalling the dawn of Jamaica’s political independence from Britain, present day United Kingdom, after over 300 years under British rule.

Design
Following a national flag design competition (in 1961), which failed to yield a winning model, a bipartisan committee of the Jamaica House of Representatives in early 1962, designed the Jamaican Flag in time for Independence Day Celebrations on August 6, 1962.

The emblem has a diagonal cross or saltire with four triangles in juxtaposition. The cross is in GOLD and the width of each of its bends (arms) is one-sixth of the length of the fly of the flag. The top and bottom triangles are in GREEN, and the hoist and fly triangles are in BLACK. It follows the ‘Admiralty Pattern’ and the width-to-length ratio of the flag is 1:2.

Symbolism
“The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag. Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people; Gold, the natural beauty of the sunlight and the wealth of the country; and Green signifies hope and agricultural resources.