tunisia flag postcard

The red and white flag of Tunisia, adopted as the national flag in 1827, has its origins in the naval ensign of the Kingdom of Tunis adopted in 1831 by Al-Husayn II ibn Mahmud. The current official design dates to 1999. According to Ludvík Mucha, author of Webster's Concise Encyclopedia of Flags & Coats of Arms, the white disc located in the centre of the flag represents the sun. The red crescent and the five-pointed star, two ancient symbols of Islam, were most notably used on Ottoman flag and have since appeared on many flags of Islamic countries. The crescent is, from the viewpoint of an Arabic observer, supposed to bring good luck. The colour red is a symbol of resistance against Turkish supremacy.