Republic of Lebanon

Use	National flag and ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	7 December 1943; 81 years ago (1943-12-07)
Design	A horizontal triband of red, white (double width) and red; charged with a green cedar tree.
Designed by	Henri Pharaon

The national flag of Lebanon (Arabic: العلم الوطني للجمهورية اللبنانية) consists of two horizontal red stripes enveloping a central white stripe, which is twice the height of the red ones. Positioned in the center of the white stripe is a green cedar tree (Cedrus libani), touching both red stripes.

Adopted on 7 December 1943, shortly before Lebanon gained independence from France, the flag's design reflects the country's geography, history, and cultural heritage. The red stripes are commonly interpreted as symbolizing the blood shed by the Lebanese people during their struggles for independence, while the white stripe represents peace, purity, and the snow-capped mountains of Lebanon. The cedar tree, a national symbol for centuries, stands for immortality, resilience, and hope, embodying Lebanon's identity as the "Land of the Cedars".

The flag's origins trace back to the early 20th century, with the cedar tree becoming a prominent symbol during the French mandate period. The current design was finalized during a tense political climate in 1943, when Lebanon unilaterally abolished the French mandate. The flag was formally introduced into the Lebanese Constitution on 7 December 1943, with its design standardized in 1995 to feature an entirely green cedar tree. In 1979, 21 November was declared as National Flag Day to honor the first flag-raising in 1943.

According to the Article 5 of the Constitution of Lebanon: "The Lebanese flag shall be composed of three horizontal stripes, a white stripe between two red ones. The width of the white stripe shall be equal to that of both red stripes. In the center of and occupying one third of the white stripe is a green Cedar tree with its top touching the upper red stripe and its base touching the lower red stripe."^[1]

Prior to 1995, the constitution did not specify the color of the cedar tree, and it was common to see a brown trunk as depicted in the original drawing. Similar brown-trunk variants were registered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and on official postcards of United Nations with member state flags. In 1995 the Constitution was amended to specify the color (green) of the whole cedar tree.^[2][3]

Since the law does not specify the exact proportions or artistic details of the flag, various common variants are frequently seen in practice. The key requirements are that the cedar tree must touch both red stripes and be entirely green, as stipulated in the 1995 constitutional amendment. Beyond these essential elements, the flag's design often varies in artistic interpretation.^[4]

The Lebanese flag's design is deeply rooted in the country's history, culture, and natural heritage, with the cedar tree (Cedrus libani) at its heart. The cedar, a symbol of Lebanon for millennia, represents resilience, immortality, and unity, reflecting the nation's identity as the "Land of the Cedars."

The cedar of Lebanon holds a prominent place in history and religious texts. It is mentioned 103 times in the Bible, often symbolizing strength, majesty, and divine blessing.^[5][6][7] In Psalms 92:12, it is written, "[t]he righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon", and in Psalms 104:16, "[t]he trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted". The cedar's wood, known for its durability and resistance to pests, was used to build sacred structures, including Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.^[8]

The cedar has inspired poets, writers, and political leaders. Alphonse de Lamartine, marveling at the cedars during his trip to the Middle East, wrote, "[t]he cedars of Lebanon are the relics of centuries and nature, the most famous natural landmarks in the universe."^[9] Similarly, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who visited Lebanon in 1935, reflected on the cedar's symbolism in his work Citadelle [fr]: "[t]he peace is a long-growing tree. We need, as the cedar, to rock its unity."^[10] In 1920, during the proclamation of the State of Greater Lebanon, the cedar was described as a symbol of resilience and unity: "[a]n evergreen cedar is like a young nation despite a cruel past. Although oppressed, never conquered, the cedar is its rallying. By the union, it will break all attacks."^[10] This sentiment was echoed in the design of the Lebanese flag, which merged the French tricolor with the cedar to reflect Lebanon's ties to France under the mandate.

The current flag, adopted in 1943, carries profound symbolic meanings. Interpretations of the flag's colors vary. The two red stripes are often interpreted as representing the blood shed during Lebanon's struggles for independence against the Ottoman Empire and later against French colonial rule. Alternatively, they symbolize the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountain ranges, with the white stripe representing the Beqaa Valley between them.^[11][12] Some accounts link the red and white to the historical conflict between the Qaysi and Yamani factions, with red representing the Qaysi and white the Yamani. The combination of these colors with the cedar is seen as a resolution of Lebanon's divisions and a symbol of national unity.^[13] Whitney Smith, in Flags and Arms Across the World, supports this interpretation.^[4]

Broader symbolism associates white with purity, peace, and spiritual authority, red with sacrifice and strength, and green with hope and renewal. The white stripe also represents the snow covering Lebanon's mountains. The green cedar in the center stands for immortality, steadfastness, and hope, serving as a unifying national symbol. For Christians, green represents hope, while in Islamic tradition, it signifies salvation.^[2]

The cedar tree has long been a symbol of Lebanon, with its roots tracing back to the 18th century when it became emblematic of the Christian Maronites.^[4] The first recorded use of the Maronite flag – a white field charged with a green cedar tree – was in October 1848, reflecting the cedar's growing significance as a national symbol.^[14]

The rise of Lebanese national self-confidence was particularly evident among diaspora communities. In 1913 two Lebanese Brazilian journalists, Shukri El Khoury [ar] and Naoum Labaki, both part of the Mahjar movement, proposed "a white flag with a cedar tree in the center".^[13] This design was adopted by Lebanese immigrants in the Americas and communicated to the Allied Powers. The same flag was also embraced in Lebanon, though in 1918 El Khoury suggested adding red and blue triangles on the left side of the white cedar flag to pay homage to the French mandate.^[13]

Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the white flag with a green cedar was raised as Lebanon's first national flag on 2 November 1918 over the palace in Baabda, then capital of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon, where it remained until May 1919, as noted by Rachid Nakhle, a leader of the Lebanon League of Progress.^[13] Lebanese communities abroad also played a role in shaping the national identity. On 3 July 1919, the French consul in Santiago de Cuba reported that Lebanese émigrés were advocating for a French protectorate over Lebanon, separate from Syria, and proposed a national flag featuring a cedar in the white band.^[13]

In May 1919, Naoum Mokarzel, president of the Lebanon League of Progress, designed a new version of the Lebanese flag inspired by the French tricolor. The flag featured vertical blue, white, and red bands with a cedar tree at its center. Later that year, in October 1919, the Lebanese delegation, led by Maronite Patriarch Elias Peter Hoayek, presented their aspirations for independence in a memorandum to the Paris Peace Conference.^[15] During the conference, Mokarzel proposed the tricolor flag to French President Raymond Poincaré, who enthusiastically embraced the idea. The design later became the official flag of Lebanon under the League of Nations.^[13] However, this design faced opposition from many Lebanese Christians, who felt it threatened their identity. In protest, the Administrative Council and Lebanese municipalities flew the plain white cedar flag, particularly in the districts of Batroun and Keserwan.^[13]

On 22 March 1920, demonstrators in Baabda raised the tricolor flag demanding "the affirmation of the union of Lebanon with France, consecrated by the choice, as a national emblem, of the tricolor flag with the Cedar in a white band."^[13] This flag was officially adopted on 23 May 1926, as described in Article 5 of the Lebanese Constitution: "The Lebanese flag is blue, white, and red in vertical bands of equal width, with a cedar on the white part."^[16] Although the constitution did not specify the cedar's color, most contemporary depictions showed it as green with a brown trunk.^[17]

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  Flag used by Lebanese Maronites in the 19th century, and first raised as a Lebanese flag in 1918 (1918–1920)
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  () Flag used by Lebanese Maronites in the 19th century, and first raised as a Lebanese flag in 1918 (1918–1920; variant)
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  Shukri El Khoury [ar]'s proposed flag featuring red and blue triangles added to honor the French mandate (1918)
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  Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate (1920–1943)
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  () Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate (1920–1943; variant)

During World War II, Vichy French authorities allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria and Lebanon. In response, British troops moved into the region, and by late 1941, the Free French government supported Lebanese independence.^[18] Elections were held in 1943, and in November of that year, the newly formed Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the French mandate. In reaction, French authorities briefly imprisoned key government leaders, including President Bechara El Khoury, Prime Minister Riad Al Solh, and several ministers. Under international pressure, France eventually agreed to Lebanon's independence weeks later.^[2]

Accounts of the Lebanese flag's creation vary, with different figures claiming credit for its design. The flag emerged during this period of political tension. On 11 November 1943, seven members of parliament managed to meet in the French-occupied Parliament and hastily devised a colored version of the flag, preserving the cedar as a national symbol.^[19][20] The flag was formally introduced into the Lebanese Constitution on 7 December 1943, with its composition specified as three horizontal stripes (red, white, and red) and a cedar tree occupying one-third of the white stripe.^[21]

Henri Pharaon, a member of parliament and a central figure in the flag's creation, claimed that he proposed the flag's design.^[22] According to Pharaon, the Muslim elected officials initially proposed four colors – green, white, red, and black – based on the pan-Arab colors, while the Christian representatives demanded a single color with the cedar in the center.^[23] Drawing on his Austrian connections as a former consul for the Austro-Hungarian Empire and founder of the Austro-Lebanese Friendship Association, Pharaon suggested using the Austrian flag as a model, with its red and white horizontal stripes, and placing a green cedar tree in the center.^[24] This proposal was reportedly assisted by Saadi Al Munla and Mohamad Al Fadl. The original drawing of the flag, signed by the seven parliament members, was executed by Al Munla.^[19] The seven MPs – Maroun Kanaan [fr], Mohamad Al Fadl, Rachid Baydoun, Sabri Hamadeh, Henri Pharaon, Saadi Al Munla, and Saeb Salam – entered Parliament despite the French blockade, finalized the design with colored pencils, and adopted it as the national flag. Ten days later, Lebanon achieved independence.^[23]

Pierre Gemayel, leader of the Kataeb Party, offered a different account. He asserted that his party conceived the flag's design, which was later adopted by the government. According to Gemayel, on the morning of 11 November 1943, he presented a drawing of the new flag to members of parliament and urged them to formally adopt it.^[13] Gemayel reportedly consulted Maurice Chehab, director of antiquities of Lebanon, who advised that the flag's design should reflect Lebanon's traditions. Chehab suggested combining the colors red and white, representing the historical conflict between the Qaysi and Yamani factions,^[4] with the cedar tree as a unifying national symbol. Gemayel also enlisted Sami Dahdah to draw the new flag, which was then sewn by the wife of Felix Hobeyka.^[13]

The Lebanese flag was first raised in Bechamoun on 21 November 1943 at 11:20 pm.^[25] In 1979, the Minister of National Education, Boutros Harb, declared 21 November as National Flag Day. From 1943 to 1995, the cedar tree on the flag was depicted naturalistically with a brown trunk, as seen in versions registered with the WIPO. In 1995, the Lebanese government standardized the cedar's color to entirely green, replacing the earlier depiction.^[2][3]

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  Flag as drawn and approved by the members of the parliament during the declaration of independence (1943)
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  Flag of Lebanon (1943–1995)
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  Design stored at WIPO (1943–1995)
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  Flag of Lebanon (1995–present)
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  Common variant of the flag of Lebanon (1995–present)
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  Vertical flag of Lebanon

• List of Lebanese flags
• Coat of arms of Lebanon
• Insignia of the Republican Guard Brigade

• Lebanon at Flags of the World