Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Significance of the Ethiopian Flag Day Celebration
Gemeda Chala
The Ethiopian flag is one of the ancient flags of the world. Article 113 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Ethiopia prepared by the Derge noted that “The flag of the Peoples Democratic republic of Ethiopia is a rectangular shape with colors green above, yellow in the middle and red below”.
Article 3 of the Constitution of the FDRE provides that: “The Ethiopian flag shall consist of green at the top, yellow in the middle and red at the bottom, and shall have a national emblem at the center. The three colors shall be set horizontally in equal dimension.
The national emblem on the flag shall reflect the hope of the Nations, Nationalities, Peoples as well as religious communities of Ethiopia to live together in equality and unity.”
Throughout the year, it is seen in the rains of the monsoon seasons or in one of the many waterfalls like the Blue Nile Falls during the dry season, as a reminder that God made to man never to destroy the earth with water. Apart from its formal use, Ethiopians use the country’s flag on funerals, wedding ceremonies and religious holidays.
Asfaw also notes that the flag colors signify such doctrines as Faith Hope and Charity, Father Son and Holy Spirit and Wealth Blood and Fertile Land. Ethiopians however believe it was given to them by God and its sanctity is beheld.
Herbert Vivian describes in his 1902 book “Abyssinia” the National flag of Abyssinia as a “stripe of white middle as red and white. The flag however was hoisted at the Gildessa guardhouse in Harar and is probably a religious flag described by priests as the purity of Christ and the red blood that flowed for the sake of mankind.”
Harrington, a British, tells Herbert Vivian that he removed the Ethiopian flag from the British territories (which made Menelik mad) but does not describe it. It must have been the Yellow Red Green that Menelik hoisted over his palace unless the white red and white was used by the Church.
During the imperial regime, the image of the flag with the Lion of Judah (Moa Anbessa) is from a flag used in the Jubilee Palace and depicts the official and correct Lion of Judah symbol.
Asfaw says that tourists and pseudo-scholars sometimes provide wrong information that is picked up by the lay person just because it was written by a European. One such example is Herbert Vivian, a British traveler who was in Ethiopia in 1900 and who describes the flag of Ethiopia in his book Abyssinia as White Red White horizontal strips when he first saw it near Somadu and Gildessa close to Harar.
Over a couple of years back some demonstrations have witnessed a public misuse of the Ethiopian flag in which flags with no emblems were hoisted as a gesture of rejected the current Ethiopian flag. Although the peoples of Ethiopia use the federal flag with its constitutionally defined emblem on various occasions, it seems that quite a few of the Ethiopians are unaware of the legal punishments the law provides on those who tamper with the tricolor. Article 16 of the Flag Proclamation No. 654/2009 Provides that:
“The flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia shall only be of the colors of green, yellow and blue circular back ground as provided hereinabove, together with the Emblem at the center as specified in this proclamation.
Respect due on hoisting and lowering the flag is also indicated on article 17 of the above proclamation.
The flag of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has an emblem with full constitutional meaning. Article 8 of the Flag Proclamation provides for full. Meaning of the Emblem on the flag.
“The circular blue background of the Emblem signifies peace.2/ The straight and equal lines signify the equality of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples as well as of Religions.3/ The star formed by the straight and equal lines signify the unity founded by the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia of their common will.4/ The yellow rays signify the bright prospect in sight for the Nations, Nationalities and Peoples united of their common will.”
The proclamation also provides for the prohibition and penalties regarding the mode of use of the flag. The law prohibits use of the flag without emblem (article 23,) defacing it, using torn flag, fastening advertisements on the flag, disrespect for the flag at public places, use of the flag in improper disorder.
Whatever the case might be, replacing and hosting an improper flag that does not depict the federal order is tantamount to an opposition not to the government as such but tarnishing the symbol that shows the national identity of the country. Any crime that is committed against the Ethiopian flag is not only a crime against the sovereignty of the state and the constitution but is also an offense committed against the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia and various religious denominations in the country.
After centuries of repeatedly aroused and dashed hopes, this generation of Ethiopians is turning a new page. A glorious new page of our history where poverty will merely be a footnote in our long history is being written with the sweet and toil of millions of farmers and pastoralists, businessmen both small and big and workers and the intelligentsia. Glorious new page of our history where our diversity becomes a source of strength through tolerance and democracy rather than a source of problems, through the patient and methodical efforts of all our followers of all the great religions of our country, men and women, young and old. Nationalities, followers of all the great religions of our country, men and women, young and old.”
In effect, the Ethiopian flag certainly represents such lofty aspirations as indicated in article 3 of the Constitution indicated in the historic speech of the late Premier.
This year, Ethiopia’s Flag Day is marked on the 16th of October focusing on upholding and implementing the constitutional rights of citizens and further promotion of promoting good governance in the country. It is also marked with objectives of enhancing unity in diversity and the creation of consensus on the glorious history of this proud nation. The day is also marked in the spirit of crowing the year 2010 E.C with yet another round of economic achievements in the GTP II.
