Bahamas Flags – Bahamian Flag, Red Ensign, Bunting & Hand Flags

The Bahamas flag: aquamarine, gold and black

The flag of the Bahamas is a horizontal triband of aquamarine, gold and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle at the hoist. It was raised for the first time at independence on 10 July 1973, and the design is credited to Dr Hervis Bain, who drew together elements from the entries to a national competition. The aquamarine bands are the shallow seas that give the islands their name, from the Spanish baja mar, the gold is the sand and the sunshine, and the black triangle is the unity, vigour and determination of the Bahamian people in developing those resources. Bahamian-registered merchant ships, one of the largest fleets in the world, fly a civil ensign instead: a red ensign with a white cross and the national flag in the canton, which we stock as the Bahamas Civil (Red) Ensign in DuraFlag in 20x12in and 5ft x 3ft roped sizes. Our Bahamas flag prints the aquamarine as the true turquoise-blue of the official shade rather than a plain royal blue.

Independence Day, Junkanoo and the Golden Knights

Independence Day on 10 July is the main flag day in the Bahamas, with the Clifford Park celebrations in Nassau running from the evening of the 9th into fireworks at midnight, and the colours are everywhere again for Junkanoo, the costumed rush-out through Bay Street in the small hours of Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. In the UK the Bahamas High Commission in Chesham Place and the Bahamian community in London hold Independence receptions and Junkanoo-themed events, and the flag goes up for Commonwealth Day in March. In sport the Bahamas punches well above its weight in athletics: the Golden Knights 4x400m relay won Olympic gold in 2012, Shaunae Miller-Uibo took 400m gold in 2016 and 2020, and Steven Gardiner won the 400m in Tokyo. Sailing, with the Family Islands regattas, and swimming round out the sporting calendar, while the Bahamas Bowl brings American college football to Nassau each December.

Which size and grade

A 5ft x 3ft is the size for a flagpole, a beach bar or a church hall; a 3ft x 2ft for a window, a student room or a stall; an 8ft x 5ft for a large pole or a stage backdrop; and the 20x12in for a car window or a hand pole. The Flagtex grade is the printed polyester for indoor and occasional outdoor use, and the DuraFlag grade is the knitted heavyweight with a double-stitched edge for a season outdoors in Caribbean sun or British rain. Each has a sewn header with brass eyelets; the DuraFlag is also available with clips or with rope and toggle for a yacht or a club mast.

Bahamas bunting

Ten feet or thirty feet of Bahamas bunting in rectangular pennants on a tape: the 3m length for a doorway, a buffet table or a classroom, the 9m for a community hall, a church fete or a garden for 10 July. The printed polyester pennants show the aquamarine, gold and black triangle on both faces and can be left out through a shower.

Hand flags and table flags

Bahamas hand flags on wooden sticks are stocked in 9x6in and 18x12in for Independence parades, athletics meetings and school Commonwealth days. The Bahamas table flag is 6x4in on a base for an office, a travel agent or a dinner table, and the large wooden table flag at 18x12in is for a reception desk or a high commission counter. Jamaica, Barbados, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and Bermuda flags are all under world flags.

Bahamas flag FAQs

Popular in this collection

• Bahamas Flag (20x12in to 8x5ft, Flagtex or DuraFlag)from £6.99
• Bahamas Civil (Red) Ensign DuraFlag (20x12in, 5x3ft)from £14.99
• Bahamas Bunting (3m or 9m)from £9.98
• Bahamas Hand Flags (9x6in, 18x12in)from £5.99
• Bahamas Table Flag 6x4in with Basefrom £1.98
• Bahamas Large Wooden Table Flagfrom £3.98