🇱🇻 The colours of Latvia

Latvia’s flag uses a deep carmine red and white. The red stands for sacrifice and the will to defend freedom, while the white stripe recalls a legend of a wounded leader whose blood-stained shroud became the flag. These colours have roots in medieval times and are officially defined today.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

• Latvia’s flag colours date back to the 13th century.
• The red is officially Pantone 201 C for digital and non-fabric flags.
• A legend links the colours to a wounded leader’s blood-stained shroud.
• The flag’s red is a dark shade mixed with brown and purple.
• Use of the flag was banned during Soviet occupation.

The colours of the flag of Latvia

The Latvian flag is a horizontal triband with two wide carmine red stripes and a narrower white stripe in the middle. The red is a dark shade, described as a mix of brown and purple. Officially, the red symbolises Latvians’ readiness to give their blood for freedom and to defend their sovereignty. A popular legend tells of a wounded Latgalian leader whose blood stained the edges of a white sheet, leaving the centre white; this story is often linked to the flag’s design. The meanings are both official and drawn from folklore.

How the colours were chosen of Latvia

The red-white-red colours are among the oldest in the world, first recorded in a 13th-century chronicle describing Latgalian tribes. The legend of the blood-stained shroud is a key part of their origin. The flag was revived by nationalists in the 19th century and officially adopted in 1921. During Soviet occupation, its use was banned, but it was restored in 1990 as Latvia regained independence. Over time, the exact shade of red has been adjusted and standardised.

Official shades and rules of Latvia

Latvian law specifies the flag’s red as Pantone 201 C for digital and non-fabric uses, and Pantone 19-1629 TPX/TC for fabric flags. The flag’s bands are in a 2:1:2 ratio, with the flag’s height to width set at 1:2. The flag must be displayed respectfully, with rules about height, flagstaff colour, and handling during mourning. Official standards for state offices use the same colour proportions.