The Secret History Behind Tonga's Flag
Tonga's flag has been red with a red cross for more than 150 years.
The tradition says that after the chief Taufaʻahau Tupou was converted to Christianity and became King George Tupou I, he wanted a new flag that would represent the Christian faith. The design was set down in the constitution proclaimed on November 4, 1875.
The flag is red with a white canton that holds a red cross. The red cross stands for the Christian faith, the white for purity and the red for the blood of Christ.
The date printed on every Tonga design in our catalog, June 4, 1970, is the day Tonga's status as a British protected state ended and it became fully independent.
A red cross that has barely changed since the 1800s.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.