Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the American Flag

A novembre in America si festeggia il giorno del Ringraziamento, "Thanksgiving". Una festa che più americana non si può. Un’altra icona è l’adorata bandiera. In pochi lo sanno, ma ci sono delle regole ben precise per utilizzare "the American flag", eccone alcune...

Aggiornato il giorno

365 The American Flag Istock

Ascolta questo articolo

Stampare

The American flag is everywhere! It is flown in almost every country. It’s on the top of the tallest mountains. It’s even in space. If you go to America, you will see the flag in many places too – on stamps, uniforms, cars and buildings. But you will probably never see the flag on the ground. That’s because it’s against the rules.

the CODE

The United States Flag Code is a set of guidelines about the flag. The code says that the American flag should always be on the top of the flagpole, with other flags underneath. It should never touch the ground. And nobody should ever step on it. You should raise the American flag at sunrise and lower it at sunset. The flag should never be flown in darkness. So if you want to fly your flag at night, you must illuminate it. The flag should also not be flown in rain or bad weather.

365 The American Flag freeimage 2

flag-burning

Until 1989, it was illegal to burn the American flag. Today, people sometimes burn the flag or fly it upside down in public as a political protest. Most Americans find this very offensive. It is, however, OK to burn flags that are old and tattered. The code says that people should dispose of old flags in a dignified manner, either by burying or burning them.

illegal

According to the code, the flag should never be printed on cushions, napkins, boxes and other things that people use temporarily and then discard. Also, the flag should not be on clothing, bedding or drapery. Many Americans ignore these rules, probably because they don’t know about them. If you ever go to a Fourth of July celebration, you will see people wearing t-shirts and using napkins printed with the American flag. They consider these things patriotic.

stars and stripes

The US Flag Code is federal law. There is, however, no penalty for breaking the code. That’s because enforcing it would interfere with Americans’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Americans love their flag, which is also known as the “Stars and Stripes,” “Old Glory” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” They even have a day dedicated to it: Flag Day is on June 14th. It commemorates the adoption of the American flag in 1777. Many cities have a Flag Day parade and some organizations have flag retirement ceremonies – where they ceremoniously dispose of old flags.

HOW TO FOLD THE FLAG

Americans have very precise rules about how to fold their flag. Two people hold the flag so that it’s parallel to the ground, no part of the flag must touch the ground. They fold it twice lengthwise. They then make several triangular folds – until only a triangle of blue stars is visible: this is the portion of the flag denoting honour. Some organizations have their own special flag-folding ceremony. The National Flag Foundation’s ceremony involves making ten folds. It says that each fold represents a different virtue: liberty, unity, justice, perseverance, hardiness, valour, purity, innocence, sacrifice and honour.

 

Charlie Brooker, the Mind Behind Black Mirror
iStock

People

Charlie Brooker, the Mind Behind Black Mirror

Il suo senso dell’umorismo acuto e sfrenato prende di mira la politica e la società intera. È l’ideatore della famosa serie televisiva Black Mirror: assurda, surreale, magnificamente scritta, che si focalizza sugli effetti della tecnologia sulla vita moderna. Ma Charlie Brooker è un genio della satira in generale, abile su tutti i media dalla tv ai giornali, al web...

Toby Saul

Ireland's National Ploughing Championships
National Ploughing Association

Culture

Ireland's National Ploughing Championships

Il festival nazionale irlandese... dell’aratura! Un evento imperdibile per chi fa l’agricoltore di professione, ma anche per i non addetti ai lavori: ci sono giochi e premi per tutti, dal calcio con il trattore al miglior vestito!

Talitha Linehan

More in Explore

The Ultimate English Idiom Challenge: Can You Fill in the Gaps?
iStock

Tips and resources

The Ultimate English Idiom Challenge: Can You Fill in the Gaps?

Metti alla prova le tue capacità linguistiche e il tuo intuito con questi esercizi perfetti per gli studenti: completa le espressioni idiomatiche sul clima ed esercitati nella comprensione della lettura in inglese!

Natalie Gommon

TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Between Worlds: Saoirse Ronan

Entertainment

Between Worlds: Saoirse Ronan

Attrice talentuosa e precoce, la giovane Saoirse Ronan ha stupito con il suo ruolo in Espiazione. Nel film Brooklyn, come lei stessa racconta, rese omaggio alle sue origini irlandesi, un paese che ama.

Alex Phillips