The U.S. flag is folded thirteen times in the ceremonial flag-folding ritual often seen at Memorial Day observances.
The finished flag is folded into a triangular shape, with the blue canton and its stars visible. This presentation is commonly used at military funerals, memorial ceremonies, and other patriotic observances, including events held around Memorial Day.
Popular explanations assign a symbolic meaning to each of the thirteen folds, such as liberty, justice, and remembrance. However, the U.S. government does not prescribe one official set of meanings for the folds, and ceremonial explanations can vary between organizations.
The thirteen-fold tradition is connected to the original thirteen American colonies, which are represented by the thirteen stripes on the flag. It should not be confused with the flag’s design: the current flag has fifty stars and thirteen stripes, while the folding ceremony concerns the number of folding movements used to create the triangular presentation.