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Everything about Half-staff totally explainedHalf-staff or half-mast describes a flag flying approximately halfway up a flagpole or ship's mast (though anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the way up is acceptable, but see below). This is done in many countries as a symbol of respect, mourning, or distress.
The tradition of flying the flag at half-mast began centuries ago to allow the invisible flag of death to fly on top of the mast, thus signifying death's presence, power, and prominence. In some countries, for example the UK, and especially in military contexts, a "half-staff" flag is still flown exactly one flag's width down from its normal position, and no lower, in order to allow for this flag of death. This was the original flag etiquette. However, with larger flags on shorter hoists on many public buildings, the practice of actual half-staff has become common, especially outside the UK, where it's now standard to fly the flag at halfway up the mast regardless of the size of the flag or hoist. (For modern UK practice see below.)
When hoisting a flag that's to be displayed at half-staff, it should be hoisted to full staff for an instant, then lowered to half-staff. Likewise when it's lowered at the end of the day, it's to be hoisted to full staff for an instant, and then lowered.
The term "half-mast" is commonly used colloquially to refer to half-staff, although military tradition indicates that "half-mast" is generally reserved to usage aboard a ship, where flags are typically flown from masts. Not all English-speaking nations observe this distinction.
Examples
Australia
The Flag of Australia is flown half-mast in Australia:
- On the death of the Sovereign – from the time of announcement of the death up to and including the funeral. On the day the accession of the new Sovereign is proclaimed, it's customary to raise the flag to the top of the staff from 11 a.m..
- On the death of a member of a royal family.
- On the death of the Governor-General or a former Governor-General.
- On the death of a distinguished Australian citizen. Flags in any locality may be flown at half-mast on the death of a notable local citizen or on the day, or part of the day, of their funeral. Recent examples include the death of naturalist Steve Irwin and actor Heath Ledger.
- On the death of the head of state of another country with which Australia has diplomatic relations – the flag would be flown on the day of the funeral.
- On ANZAC day the flag is flown half-mast until noon.
- On Remembrance Day flags are flown at peak till 10:30 am, at half-mast from 10:30am to 11:03am, then at peak the remainder of the day
Canada
In Canada, the decision to fly the flag at half-mast on federal buildings rests with the Department of Canadian Heritage. Federally, the national flag of Canada is flown at half-mast to mark the following occasions:
Certain events are also marked by flying the national flag at half-mast on the Peace Tower at Parliament Hill. These include:
| Date |
Significance |
| April 9 of each year |
Marking Vimy Ridge Day |
| September 11 of each year |
Marking America Remembers; further, flags are flown at half-mast at Canadian diplomatic missions in the United States on this day |
| Varies |
The annual memorial service on Parliament Hill to remember deceased parliamentarians |
On occasion discretion can dictate the flying of the national flag at half-mast, not only on the Peace Tower, but on all federal facilities. Some examples include September 11, 2001, September 11, 2002, the state funeral of Ronald Reagan, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Mayerthorpe Incident, the death of Pope John Paul II, the 2005 London bombings, the death of Ernest Smith, and the state funeral of Gerald Ford.
There are, however, exceptions to the rules of half-masting in Canada: if Victoria Day or Canada Day fall during a period of half-masting, the flags are to be returned to full-mast for the duration of the day. The national flag on the Peace Tower is also hoisted to full mast if a foreign head of state or head of government is visiting the parliament. These exemptions, though, don't apply to the period of mourning for the death of a Canadian monarch. The Royal Standard of Canada also never flies at half-mast, as it's considered representative of the sovereign, who ascends to the throne automatically upon the death of his or her predecessor. Each province can make its own determination of when to fly the flag at half-mast when provincial leaders or honoured citizens pass away.
To raise a flag in this position, the flag must be flown to the top of the pole first, then brought down halfway before the flag is secured for flying. When such mourning occurs, all flags should be flown at that position or not be flown at all, with the exception of flags permanently attached to poles.
A controversy surfaced in April, 2006, when the newly appointed Conservative government discontinued the practice, initiated by the previous Liberal government following the Tarnak Farm incident, of flying the flag at half-mast on all government buildings whenever a Canadian soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan. The issue divided veterans' groups and military families, some of whom supported the return to the original tradition of using Remembrance Day to honour all soldiers killed in action, while others felt it was an appropriate way to honour the fallen and to remind the population of the costs of war.
On April 2, 2008, the House of Commons voted in favour of a motion calling on the government to reinstate the former policy regarding the half-masting of the flag on federal buildings. The motion, however, wasn't binding and the Cabinet refused to recommend any revision in policy to the Governor Genereal. At the same time, a federal advisory committee tabled its report on the protocol of flying the national flag at half-mast, recommending that the Peace Tower flag remain at full height on days such as the Police Officers National Memorial Day and the National Day or Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, stating that the flag should only be half-masted on Remembrance Day. At last report, the committee's findings had been forwarded to the House of Commons all-party heritage committee for further study.
Sources:
Public Works and Government Services Canada: Ceremonial Procedures
Department of Canadian Heritage: Rules for Flying the Flag
Department of Canadian Heritage: Rules for Half-masting the National Flag of Canada
China
The flag of the People's Republic of China is flown at half-staff, according to the National Flag Law:
on the death of the President, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Premier, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference, and those who have made "major contributions to the People's Republic of China, or to world peace or advancement of the mankind".
when major disasters happen
- Example: The flag was flown at half-staff from May 19 to May 21, 2008, the three national mourning days for the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake.
Germany
The German flag, the flags of its federal states, etc. are flown at half-staff on:
January 27, Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism
National Day of Mourning (second to last Sunday in November)
India
The flag of India is flown at half-staff for the death of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister all over India. For the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court of India, it's flown in Delhi and for a Union Cabinet Minister it's flown in Delhi and the state capitals. For Minister of State, it's flown only in Delhi. For a Governor, Lt. Governor and Chief Minister of a state or union territory it's flown in the concerned state.
If the intimation of the death of any dignitary is received in the afternoon, the flag shall be flown at half-staff on the following day also at the place or places indicated above, provided the funeral hasn't taken place before sun-rise on that day. On the day of the funeral of a dignitary mentioned above, the flag shall be flown at half-staff at the place of the funeral.
In the event of a half-staff day coinciding with the Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, National Week (6th to 13th April), any other particular day of national rejoicing as may be specified by the Government of India or in the case of a state, on the anniversary of formation of that state, flags are not permitted to be flown at half-staff except over the building where the body of the deceased is lying until it has been removed and that flag shall be raised to the full-staff position after the body has been removed.
Observances of State mourning on the death of foreign dignitaries are governed by special instructions issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Home Ministry) in individual cases. However, in the event of death of either the Head of the State or Head of the Government of a foreign country, the Indian Mission accredited to that country may fly the national flag on the above mentioned days.
Israel
The Flag of Israel is flown at half-staff in Israel:
On Yom HaShoah, or the Holocaust Remembrance Day.
On Yom Hazikaron, or Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.
On other national days of mourning.
Netherlands
The flag of the Netherlands is nationally flown at half-staff on remembrance day of the dead (May 4th) and at the death of a member of the royal family.
Japan
In addition to the tradition of half-staff, the national flag topped by black cloth may be flown to designate mourning. See the flag of Japan for more.
New Zealand
For both government and public buildings, the flag of New Zealand is flown at half-mast for the following people:
Monarch of New Zealand from the day of the announcement of their death up to and including the day of the funeral. But it's flown at full-mast on Proclamation Day, the day when the new sovereign is announced.
Current and former Governors-General and Prime Minsters of New Zealand on the day of the announcement of their death and the day of their funerals.
Other members of the British Royal Family on the day of their funeral subject to a special command from the Queen or Governor-General.
Commonwealth of Nations Governors-General, Commonwealth Prime Ministers in office, Foreign and Commonwealth Heads of State on the day of the funeral.
In addition, it can also be half-masted at the request of the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. Examples of this are for the deaths of Sir Edmund Hillary and Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the Maori Queen
According to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the flag should be at least its own height from the top of the flagpole, though the actual position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole.
For thirty days after the death of a current or former president, as occurred after the death of President Reagan and the death of President Ford.
For ten days after the death of a current vice president, chief justice, or speaker of the House of Representatives.
From the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory, or possession.
On the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress- for example a senator, a representative, a delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
On Memorial Day until noon.
Upon presidential proclamation, which have recently included: the remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, the death of Pope John Paul II, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the deaths of Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks, and the Virginia Tech massacre.
US federal law requires the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. Yearly presidential proclamations also mandate that the flag be flown at half-staff on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7),and September 11 (Patriot Day).
The flag of the United States may only properly be flown at half-staff pursuant to a provision of federal law, a presidential proclamation, or a gubernatorial proclamation in the state concerned. Under any other circumstance, the flag of the United States is supposed to be flown at full-staff. Some state governors have allowed flags to be flown at half staff following the death of a family member who serves in the armed forces. This applies only to flags flown on individual property. In Virginia, the entire neighborhood is allowed to fly their flag at half staff following the death of a soldier.
Turkey
The Turkish flag is flown at half-staff all over the country every 10 November, between 09:05 and the sunset, in memory of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who died on November 10th, 1938 at five past nine in the morning. At other times, the government may issue an order for the national flag to be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the Turkish political life as a mark of respect to their memory (Such as Turgut Özal). When such an order is issued, all government buildings, offices, public schools and military bases are to fly their flags at half-staff. In order to show the sympathy of Turkish people to some foreign leader, flags are also flown at half-staff by governmental order (such as after Arafat's or the Pope John Paul II's deaths).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Half-staff'.
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