Flag of Latvia
| Use | Civil and state flag, civil ensign |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 15 June 1921 Restored on 27 February 1990 Current standardization on 28 November 2018 (in use since 1 January 2019) |
| Design | A carmine red field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag) |
| Designed by | Ansis Cīrulis |
| Use | Pennant |
| Proportion | 5:1 |
| Adopted | 2009 |
| Design | A trapezoidal fabric ribbon corresponding to the colors and color proportions of the State Flag |
The national flag of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas karogs) is a triband featuring two wide horizontal stripes of red at the top and bottom, separated by a twice narrower white centre stripe. It was used as the national flag after Latvia became an independent country in 1918. After the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Latvia in 1940, its use was suppressed by the Soviet government. On 27 February 1990, shortly before Latvia regained independence, the government re-adopted the traditional red-white-red flag.
Though officially adopted in 1921, the Latvian flag was used in as early as the 13th century, according to the Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia. The red colour is sometimes described as symbolizing the readiness of the Latvians to give the blood from their hearts for freedom and their willingness to defend their sovereignty. An alternative interpretation is that a Latgalian leader was wounded in battle, and the sheet on which he was laid on was stained by his blood with only the centre stripe of the sheet being left unstained. This story is similar to the legend of the origins of the flag of Austria.