Reunion Flag and Meaning
Flag of Reunion
Reunion Flag Meaning
The flag of Réunion, a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean, features a design that encapsulates both the island’s history and its geographical uniqueness. The flag consists of four main quadrants, each containing a color or symbol that speaks to different aspects of Réunion’s identity. The upper left quadrant is colored blue, the upper right is yellow, the bottom left is green, and the bottom right is red. These colors are arranged in a manner that speaks to the island’s geographic, cultural, and historical influences.
In the center of the flag is a stylized image of a stylized palm tree, representing the lush tropical nature of the island, as well as its connection to the environment. The palm tree, which has long been a symbol of life and growth on Réunion, also speaks to the island’s agricultural and tropical heritage, particularly the production of sugarcane and other crops.
The flag is not an official national flag but is used primarily by the people of Réunion to represent their regional identity within France. It conveys both pride in the island’s culture and history as well as its integration into the broader French nation.
Flag Dimensions and Proportions
The proportions of the flag of Réunion are typically maintained in a 2:3 ratio, where the height of the flag is two units and the width is three units. This ratio is consistent with many national and regional flags and ensures that the flag retains a visually pleasing balance.
The layout of the flag is divided into four equal quadrants, each with a color representing various aspects of the island’s identity. Each quadrant has an equal area of space in the flag’s design, maintaining symmetry and balance. In the center of these quadrants is the palm tree, which has a significant visual and symbolic presence, ensuring that the flag’s central emblem is the focal point.
In terms of precise measurements for the emblem, the palm tree is typically proportioned to fit comfortably within the center of the flag, ensuring that it is clearly visible from a distance while maintaining the integrity of the color blocks surrounding it. The design is often centered both horizontally and vertically on the flag, keeping the proportions of the emblem consistent regardless of the flag’s size.
Colors of the Flag
The four colors of the flag of Réunion—blue, yellow, green, and red—hold deep symbolic significance. These colors reflect various aspects of the island’s natural environment, history, and cultural identity. Each color carries its own meaning, representing key values and elements that shape the island’s identity.
Blue
The blue section of the flag, located in the upper left quadrant, represents the sky and the Indian Ocean that surrounds the island. The color blue has long been associated with water, and for Réunion, it symbolizes the island’s location in the vast Indian Ocean, as well as its relationship with the sea. The ocean has played a central role in the island’s history, especially in terms of its trade routes, exploration, and development as a hub for European colonialism in the Indian Ocean. The blue color also reflects the island’s natural beauty, with its clear skies and ocean vistas, which are central to the island’s appeal as a tourist destination.
Yellow
The yellow quadrant, positioned in the upper right corner, represents the sun. This color is symbolic of light, energy, and vitality, reflecting the island’s tropical climate and the importance of the sun in daily life. The bright sunshine in Réunion is a defining characteristic of its environment, nurturing the lush, fertile land that produces a variety of crops, especially sugarcane, which has historically been the backbone of the island’s economy. Yellow also signifies hope, renewal, and energy, key qualities that the islanders associate with their rich history and bright future.
Green
Green, in the bottom left quadrant, is a color commonly associated with agriculture, nature, and the environment. For Réunion, it symbolizes the island’s tropical forests, agricultural heritage, and its commitment to environmental sustainability. The island is known for its remarkable biodiversity, with many endemic species found within its lush rainforests and volcanic landscapes. Green is also linked to the island’s natural wealth, including its sugarcane plantations, fruit production, and other crops. In a broader sense, green on the flag speaks to the island’s agricultural industry and its role in supporting the livelihoods of many of its people.
Red
Red, located in the bottom right quadrant, represents the people of Réunion and their collective history. The red color reflects the strength, resilience, and vibrancy of the island’s population, which is ethnically diverse, with roots in Africa, India, China, and Europe. This diversity is a testament to the island’s colonial history, which involved the importation of slaves, indentured laborers, and settlers from various parts of the world. Red is a color that signifies unity and solidarity, highlighting the importance of the people of Réunion as the heart and soul of the island’s identity.
The Palm Tree
In the center of the flag, a stylized palm tree stands as the primary symbol. The palm tree is deeply symbolic of the island’s tropical environment and agricultural landscape. It is often seen as a symbol of life, growth, and prosperity. Historically, the palm tree represents the island’s agricultural development, particularly the cultivation of sugarcane, which was once the main crop and economic driver of Réunion. The palm tree is also a symbol of resilience and endurance, reflecting the ability of the island’s people and culture to thrive despite various challenges over the centuries.
The palm tree on the flag is not only a symbol of nature but also of the relationship between the people and their land. It speaks to the harmonious coexistence of human life and nature on the island. In this sense, the palm tree encapsulates the enduring spirit of Réunion and its inhabitants.
Symbols on the Flag
The Palm Tree
The central emblem of the flag is the palm tree, which serves as a symbol of the island’s connection to its environment and agricultural heritage. The palm tree is a direct reflection of the natural beauty of Réunion, as well as the livelihoods of many of its people who depend on farming and agriculture. The palm tree’s significance goes beyond just agriculture—it represents the growth and prosperity of the island, as well as its historical and cultural ties to the land.
The palm tree is an enduring symbol of the island’s resilience and the strength of its people. It is also a representation of the interconnectedness between nature and human life, emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability and the relationship between the islanders and their tropical surroundings.
The Four Quadrants
The flag’s design, divided into four quadrants, is a powerful visual representation of the diversity and multi-dimensional nature of Réunion’s identity. Each color and quadrant plays an integral part in symbolizing the island’s history, environment, and people. Together, the quadrants emphasize the idea of balance and unity, reflecting how the island’s natural resources, climate, and cultural diversity come together to create a vibrant and unique society.
The four quadrants can also be interpreted as a representation of the island’s historical journey. The balance of blue, yellow, green, and red acknowledges the past, present, and future of Réunion, combining elements of its colonial history with its modern-day identity as part of France. The flag reflects the complexity of the island’s narrative, with its cultural influences, ecological wealth, and people’s enduring spirit.
Cultural and National Identity
The flag of Réunion serves as an emblem of the island’s cultural and national identity. It is a reflection of the unique blend of indigenous and foreign influences that have shaped the island’s history and people. From its colonial past, which included slavery and the importation of indentured laborers, to its present-day status as an overseas department of France, Réunion’s identity is marked by its diversity and multiculturalism.
The four colors and the palm tree on the flag represent key aspects of the island’s natural environment and the experiences of its people. The flag also speaks to the resilience and unity of the people of Réunion, highlighting their ability to thrive despite historical challenges. It is a powerful symbol of the island’s pride in its culture, its diversity, and its connection to the land.
Réunion’s status as a French overseas department means that its cultural identity is often viewed through the lens of its relationship with France. However, the flag serves as a reminder that the island also has its own distinct identity, one rooted in the natural environment, the agricultural economy, and the multicultural heritage of its people. The flag stands as a proud symbol of the island’s unity, strength, and commitment to a bright future, both as part of France and as a unique region in the Indian Ocean.
Reunion Overview
| Population | 691000 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Area | 2,510 km² |
| Capital city | Saint-Denis |
| Population density | 275.2 residents/km² |
Reunion is an island in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Madagascar. Its origins are volcanic and the landscape is mountainous. The climate is tropical with extensive rainfall. The rivers are many and contain a lot of water. These conditions are favorable for sugar cane production, which is also the main economic activity. Another activity in rapid development is tourism.
The people: descended predominantly from African slaves (63.5%); Indians (28.3%); Chinese (2.2%); Europeans (1.9%), Africans (1.1%); others (3.1%).
Religion: Catholics (94%), Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists
Languages: French (official), Creole
Political parties: Free-DOM Movement; Communist Party Reunions; Union of French Democracy (UDF); Socialist Party.
Official name: Département d’Outre-Mer de la Réunion.
Administrative division: 5 districts (arrondissements).
Capital: Saint-Denis, 178,000 residents (2003).
Other important cities: Paul, 91,600 residents; St. Pierre, 72,000 residents; Le Tampon, 63,300 residents; St. André, 44,800 residents (2000).
Government: Didier Robert, President of the Reunion Regional Council since March 2010.
There are two local assemblies: the General Council with 47 members and the Regional Council with 45. The island sends 5 deputies and 3 senators to the French parliament.
National Day: December 20 (Abolition of Slavery, 1848)
Armed Forces: 4,000 French Soldiers (1995)
200 km from the island of Mauritius and 700 from Madagascar travel a large rock of the Indian Ocean, the island of Reunion. Until the early 17th century, the island was uninhabited. That’s how the Arabs discovered it and named it Diva Margabin. Later, the Portuguese sailors called it Santa Apolonia. The French called it Borbón, and after the French Revolution it got its present name.
Colonial rule became the downfall of subsistence agriculture. It was replaced by export products such as sugar cane and coffee, which were produced by slave labor. In addition, fishing resources around the island were reduced as a result of overfishing.
From the 18th century, the French made the island an important military base in the Indian Ocean, along with other possessions such as Djibouti and the Comoros.
Since March 1946, the French colony administration has considered Reunion an “overseas department”. The transformation into a ministry was supported by the Left, both in Reunion and in France, where the Communists joined the government in the wake of Nazi defeat in Europe. The local bourgeoisie and the local French settlers supported the gradual integration of the island into the national French territory. But the political changes in France – where right-wing governments came to power – led to a general regrouping of the political forces on the island.
The sectors associated with the colonial interests began to defend the transformation to the ministry, but the Communist Party of the Reunions (PCR) changed their attitude and from 1959 launched a campaign for partial autonomy. Due to the shift in politics – where the line was now gradually independent – PCR was isolated for the following 10 years.
In July 1978, the UN Decolonization Commission declared itself in favor of the island’s full independence. Until then, the issue had only one issue between the colonial power and the colony, but now it became an international issue.
In 1978, a meeting was held between anti-colonial and anti-imperialist movements in and around the Indian Ocean. On this occasion, the Permanent Contact Committee was set up with the aim of creating a unified front against foreign domination. During the July 1979 European Parliament elections, PCS leader Paul Verges launched the thesis on bicolonialism. He criticized that Reunion was not only subject to French domination but also to the Community’s interests.
The production crisis and unemployment were not simply a consequence of adverse climatic conditions (including drought periods, cyclones, etc.), but were due to the very structure of the economy. The situation was further aggravated by the demographic explosion on the island, where the population had grown 20% the previous decade.
Street riots became more and more frequent as the situation worsened. In 1991, eight people died in clashes with police in protest of the closure of the “pirate TV station” Télé Free-DOM led by the popular Camille Sudre. Sudre – a Frenchman raised in Reunion – had a political list in record time and won the regional elections in 1992. The support of PCR enabled him to become president – one of the island’s highest posts.
Nevertheless, the top French administrative tribunal canceled the election results due to alleged irregularities and forbade Sudre to stand again. In a new regional election in 1993, the list of “Free-DOM” led by his wife, Marguerite Sudre, won another big victory. However, the new president quickly approached the French right, and was appointed minister in the conservative Edouard Balladur government in Paris (1993-95).
Unemployment reached 40% to its highest level in 1996, and it was even higher among the youth. In 1997, tensions and discontent were expressed through constant demonstrations.
In March 1998, PCR’s leader, Paul Vergés, was elected chairman of the Regional Council by 24 votes to 20 for UDF’s right-wing candidate, Jean-Paul Virapoullé. The result was a consequence of the support Marguerite Sudre had given Vergés, who in the first vote had not gained enough votes to win.
In 2001, Gonther Friederici took over the post of prefect. In 2002, the island was hit by the powerful cyclone Dina, which caused enormous damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
Although sugar exports continue to be the island’s main economic hub, the service sector has risen significantly in recent years. The government has also tried to develop the tourism sector to ease unemployment, which in 2004 affected one third of the labor force. The economy remains largely dependent on financial assistance from France.
The gap between poor and well-to-do is radical and a source of constant social tension. The white and Indian population have a standard of living close to the European, while the African population suffers from the same poverty and unemployment as that which characterizes Africa’s poorest countries.
In 2006, the tropical disease caused by the chikungunya virus hit Reunion, where 255,000 fell ill. The French Minister for the Interior was granted a relief package of DKK 36 million. Euro, and also sent 500 French soldiers who participated in the extinction of mosquitoes on the island. The disease originally came from East Africa and is spread by the same mosquito that spreads the dengue fever. Although not deadly, there is no medicine for it.
In August, reunion authorities investigated the possibilities of utilizing the geothermal energy in the island’s subsoil.
Didier Robert was elected representative of the Reunion to the French National Assembly in March 2010.
In 2011-13, 12 shark attacks took place in the waters around Reunion. In July 2013, the island’s prefect therefore issued a ban on swimming and surfing in the sea around half of the island.
Unemployment was a huge problem. In 2014, 30% were unemployed, and among the youth, the unemployment rate reached 60.
In July 2015, a wing part washed up on the coast of Reunion. Experts subsequently found that it originated from the MAS 370 aircraft that disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March 2014.
The volcano Piton de la Fournaise erupted in July 2017. During the previous eruption in 2007, 3 million flowed. m 3 lava daily down the volcano.
