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This chapter first examines the history and role of the Bulgarian flag in the constitution of Bulgarian national identity, a process which began in the second half of the nineteenth century. It then proposes a semiotic model of the identity, one that centers its constructed character and flexibility while performing social interactions. A basic divide between the communicative resources of the self places a person’s individual characteristics in opposition to collective ones. The national flag and colors are interpreted among the expressive forms of the collective identity, in the subcategory of constitutive features for which an individual has no choice. An interpretation of the value flows for identity in social intercourse follows, modeled as an “ego economy” where the reception and production of recognition from and for others is seen as an “ego currency”. This model demonstrates that the particular efficacy of national symbols is amplified by the efficacy of the “nationalist libido”. The use of the nationalist flags, colors, symbols, and narrative in new media thus prepare a fertile ground for the emerging digital populism, one that is masterfully employed by right-wing figures with significant political results and disquieting prospects for the future.

This paper is a semiotics analysis of national symbols, especially national flags, seeking to insert its emergence in the context of the formation of the modern National States. The methodological approach is critical and interdisciplinary, capitalising on the contributions of Semiotics, History, Sociology and Philosophy. The flag of Brazil is analysed in a detailed manner, as a complex symbol, formed of shapes, colours, natural elements and words. From the historical point of view, the flag of Brazil is a symbol, which safeguards the past of the Brazilian Empire inside the symbol of the Republic of Brazil. From the semiotic point of view, one can see in the plan of expression a set of symbols, which allows us to realise the level of significance, there lying the dialectical conflicts of the history of Brazil. From the point of view of the current political scene, it seeks to analyse the new and main role played by the national flag, in its re-emergence among many demonstrations, and the rebirth of nationalism, within the context of economical, moral and political crises. This allows us to assess the meaning of Brazilian modernity and its future challenges.

This chapter looks at the role of flags as national symbols in Hungary. It does so through three case studies. The first flag discussed is the current national colours (red, white and green). It is followed by the so-called ‘Árpád stripes’ (red and white), the colours attributed to the first royal dynasty of Hungary. Finally, the flag of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is examined from a historical perspective, with special focus on its relationship with the national colours.

All states have a flag, the material symbol of their sovereignty. But in law, the status of this flag differs from one country to another: some incorporate it into their Constitution (France), others do not (U.S.A., Great Britain) and the protection against insults differs from one country to another. The legal status of the French flag has varied over an eventful history, but today the constitutional recognition of the symbol and its legal protection allow the strong representation of French sovereignty and the rights to which the nation is attached. However, the flag of the European Union competes with the French flag. In conclusion, the flag is both sacred and competitive, as it is the national anthem, which is given constitutional protection in France.

Scotland is to the United Kingdom what the Saltire is to the Union Flag. What it means to be Scottish, what form Scottish identity takes, and how the narratives of Scottish identity and belonging have been constructed and have evolved over time is a story woven into the relationship between these two flags. One a symbol of national identity and the other the symbol of a much larger intranational unity, the history of their coming together is one of negotiated settlement, legal and political compromise, a balancing of competing claims for legitimacy and control over the historical discourse. This chapter explores the origin of the Saltire as the national flag of Scotland, its emergence in symbolic representation of resistance to English power and domination, and the struggle between these two nations that is mirrored in the eventual configuration of the Union Flag. The chapter then traces the shifting contours of the social, cultural, and political landscape of Scotland through various narrative ideologies to demonstrate how the contemporary debate over national identity is symbolised in the complex colour-coded representations of these two flags.

In the mid-twentieth century scholars in the United States began to examine American society through the lens of civil religion, a term first coined by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the eighteenth century. Although much of the discussion focused on civil religion in the US, other scholars began to recognise that a civil religion also existed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. While American civil religion developed organically within all strata of society, it can be argued that in the Soviet Union there was a deliberate strategy to use civil religion as a tool to replace established religion, and to create a single sense of Soviet identity among a geographically-dispersed and ethnically-diverse population. Most studies on Soviet civil religion have focused on communist rites and rituals, and the ‘cult’ of Lenin. Few scholars have examined the elaborate system of symbols that were essential to reinforcing Soviet civil religion so that it became an everyday aspect of life in the USSR. This thesis seeks to fill that gap by examining the simvolika, or set of symbols, of the Soviet Union. While the official state symbols included the Soviet flag, state emblem, and national anthem, the set of symbols that were vital to the practice of Soviet civil religion was much more extensive. This study will examine the usage of an array of flags, seals, symbolic elements, imagery, and motifs that were essential to the socialisation of children and the reinforcement of Soviet civil religion in adulthood. Finally, it will examine the symbolic legacies of the USSR in the countries that were once part of the Soviet Union.

Filatelistička izložba Zmajevci u filateliji upriličena je kao dio predstavljanja zajedničkog izdanja poštanskih maraka Hrvatske pošte d. d. Zagreb i Hrvatske pošte Mostar d. o. o. u povodu 1100 godina Hrvatskog Kraljevstva. Izložba je izvorno postavljena u Zmajskoj dvorani u Kuli nad Kamenitim vratima, sjedištu Družbe „Braća Hrvatskoga Zmaja“ gdje je održana svečanost predstavljanja zajedničkog izdanja maraka 23. svibnja 2025. godine. Ovom prigodom izložba gostuje po prvi puta izvan Zagreba. Izložba prikazuje marke i filatelističke objekte Republike Hrvatske, ali i nekih drugih zemalja, kao i prethodnih poštanskih uprava na prostoru Hrvatske, a koji prikazuju portrete i radove članova Družbe, marke koje su dizajnirali članovi Družbe, te koje se na neki drugi način izravno odnose na djelovanje Družbe „Braća Hrvatskoga Zmaja“ od njezine uspostave 1905. do zabrane 1946. godine te nakon obnove 1990. godine. Družba tako ove godine obilježava ne samo veliki jubilej 1100. obljetnice Hrvatskoga Kraljevstva, enogo i svoje dvije godišnjice – 120 godina osnivanja i 35 godina obnove. Tim trima obljetnicama Družba je ove godine posvetila i svoj tri izdanja dragovoljnih doplatnih maraka (tzv. „pepeljuga“) kojima prikuplja sredstva za obilježavanje obljetnica. The philatelic exhibition Dragons in Philately was organized as part of the presentation of the joint issue of postage stamps of the Croatian Post d. d. Zagreb and the Croatian Post Mostar d. o. o. on the occasion of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom. The exhibition was originally set up in the Dragon Hall in the Tower above the Stone Gate, the headquarters of the Society of the Brothers of the Croatian Dragon, where the ceremony of presenting the joint issue of stamps was held on May 23, 2025. On this occasion, the exhibition is visiting for the first time outside of Zagreb. The exhibition presents stamps and philatelic objects from the Republic of Croatia, as well as some other countries, as well as previous postal administrations in Croatia, which depict portraits and works of Society members, stamps designed by Society members, and which in some other way directly relate to the activities of the Society of the Brothers of the Croatian Dragon from its establishment in 1905 to its ban in 1946 and after its restoration in 1990. This year, the Society is not only celebrating the great jubilee of the 1100th anniversary of the Croatian Kingdom, but also its two anniversaries – 120 years of its foundation and 35 years of its restoration. The Society has dedicated its three issues of voluntary surcharge stamps (so-called "Cinderellas") to these three anniversaries, with which it is raising funds to mark the anniversaries.

In the mid-twentieth century scholars in the United States began to examine American society through the lens of civil religion, a term first coined by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in the eighteenth century. Although much of the discussion focused on civil religion in the US, other scholars began to recognise that a civil religion also existed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. While American civil religion developed organically within all strata of society, it can be argued that in the Soviet Union there was a deliberate strategy to use civil religion as a tool to replace established religion, and to create a single sense of Soviet identity among a geographically-dispersed and ethnically-diverse population. Most studies on Soviet civil religion have focused on communist rites and rituals, and the 'cult' of Lenin. Few scholars have examined the elaborate system of symbols that were essential to reinforcing Soviet civil religion so that it became an everyday aspect of life in the USSR. This thesis seeks to fill that gap by examining the simvolika, or set of symbols, of the Soviet Union. While the official state symbols included the Soviet flag, state emblem, and national anthem, the set of symbols that were vital to the practice of Soviet civil religion was much more extensive. This study will examine the usage of an array of flags, seals, symbolic elements, imagery, and motifs that were essential to the socialisation of children and the reinforcement of Soviet civil religion in adulthood. Finally, it will examine the symbolic legacies of the USSR in the countries that were once part of the Soviet Union "An adaptation of the doctoral thesis in history submitted as part of the requirements for the PhD degree at the University of Leicester (UK), 2021".,