On what date did Cyprus adopt its current national flag?

Cyprus adopted its current national flag on August 16, 1960.

The flag shows a copper-colored silhouette of the island above two olive branches on a white field. The island outline symbolizes Cyprus, while the branches represent peace between the island’s Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The copper color also alludes to Cyprus’s name and its long association with copper.

The design was introduced when Cyprus became independent from British rule in 1960. Its constitution specified that the flag should not include a cross or crescent, symbols strongly associated with Greece and Turkey, and should avoid blue and red for the same reason.

Cyprus celebrates its independence day on October 1, but that date is not the flag’s adoption date. The flag’s distinctive map is also unusual among national flags because it depicts the country’s territory directly.