October 22 is National Color Day, a day to celebrate the enjoyment of colors. Colors are used to symbolize specific meanings, it’s what doctors use to check patients' skin, and it’s what tells us to stop and go at the traffic light. Color is all around us, and we use today to honor the color all around us.
The Italian flag is one of the most recognizable flags in the world. The flag is often referred to as “il Tricolore,” or tri-colored, since it has three vertical stripes that are the same size. You’ll know the colors of the Italian flag as green, white, and red. The green stripe is always closest to the flagpole.
The flag got its design when Napoleon was in power and the idea behind “Tricolore” was inspired by the French Flag. The Italian flag has gone through a number of variations over the years before finally landing on the flag we know and love today.
The colors of any country's flag have personal, political, and potentially even military or religious meanings. But what do the colors represent? There’s no exact definition of what the colors represent but there are a few theories and ideas.
Idealistically, green stands for freedom, white stands for purity, and red stands for love. Others take a more theoretical or religious approach, making the green stand for hope, the white stand for faith, and the red stand for charity.
Another common theory is that the colors stand for Italy’s beautiful geographical features. The green stands for the countryside, the plains, and the hills. The white stands for the Alps and mountainous regions. Finally, the red stands for the blood of the Italian people that has been spilt over the years in the fight for Italian Independence.
According to the military origins, red and white stand for the colors of Milan, while green stands for the Milanese Civic Guard.
No matter which interpretation of the colors of the flag you choose to believe, one thing stands true: Italians love their flag. You’ll find “Il Tricolore” on almost anything in Italy, footballs, ice cream, pizza, and salads. It is popular in clothing and for all public and civic celebrations.
AJ Forrisi
Assistant Editor for America Domani, AJ Forrisi is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer. His work focuses on food, travel, sports, landscapes, and urban scenes. You can find him on Instagram @aj.photo.works.