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Dictionary of Vexillology: C (Car Flag – Ceremony of Consecration)

Last modified: 2025-09-20 by martin karner
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CAR FLAG (or PENNANT)
1) Specifically a flag or pennant, sometimes in metal or other non-flexible material, designed specifically to be flown from a car – an automobile or vehicular flag.
2) Generically the term may include any flag that is flown from a motor vehicle (see also fanion 2)).

car flag car flag car flag
Car Flags/Pennants: President of France 1959–1969; Prime Minister Hesse, Germany; State Secretary Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Notes
a) With regard to 1), the practice of flying a car flag or pennant was previously (usually but not exclusively) limited to that carrying a head of state, government official or military officer. Whilst these were formerly sometimes flown from the radiator cap, a car flag is now more usually seen on the right front fender, wing/mudguard (or often on both front fenders) but there is a suggestion that the two positions might also previously have indicated differences in the rank of the occupant.
b) With regard to 2), the practice has arisen whereby such flags are available as sports flags or may also be displayed by a funeral cortege, and that the former are usually flown from a clip-on, window mounted staff, or from the radio antenna (see also funeral flags, sports flag 1) and sports flag 2)).

CARAVEL
The term, often misapplied, for a late 15th or early 16th century sailing vessel which carried lateen (triangular) sails on all masts – but see the notes below and carrack.

Caravel example Caravel example Caravel example
Flag of Povoação, Portugal; Portuguese Caravel c1500 (lelavandou.eu); Flag of Velas, Portugal

Notes
a) The above term is often misused, and a larger ship of this period equipped with fore and aft castles and square sails to its forward masts was almost certainly a "carrack".
b) Of the ships which accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyage of discovery in 1492, the Pinta and the Nina were caravels and the Santa Maria an early form of carrack (a "nao").

Carrack example
Portuguese Carrack c1480 (clarionfoundation.wordpress.com)

CARBUNCLE
An alternative heraldic term to escarbuncle.

Carbuncle example Carbuncle example
Arms and Proposed Flag of Kleve County, Germany

CARNATION
A heraldic term for the colour of flesh, see proper.

tincture

CARRACK
A late 15th, late 16th century sailing vessel from which the galleon was developed – but see caravel and its following note (also galleon).

Carrack example Carrack example Carrack example
Flag of Atalaia, Portugal; Flag of Aldeburgh, UK; Flag of Beidenfleth, Germany

CARROCERUM (CARROCIUM or CARROCIUS)
Alternative medieval terms, now obsolete, for the cart upon which the standard was placed – a carrocium, carrocius or war wagon (see also altema, gajardus and standard 6)).
CARTEL FLAG
In obsolete UK, US and some other usage, a flag or one of a pair of flags, that mark a vessel involved in the exchange of prisoners (see also flag of truce).

Please note, an agreement between the United States and Great Britain in 1813 laid down that the cartel vessels of each country should wear their respective national ensigns at the stern, that both should wear a plain white flag at the fore whilst each should carry their opponent’s ensign at the main, and evidence suggests that this was a confirmation of contemporary (that is early 19th century) practice (see also fore and main).

[cartel flags] [cartel flags] [cartel flags]
Typical Flags flown by cartel vessels during the War of 1812

CARTOUCHE
1) In heraldry, an oval escutcheon often used (but not exclusively so) by Italian clergymen (see also escutcheon).
2) On flags as above, and a term that now covers an often (but by no means invariably) oval plaque or frame, generally containing heraldic insignia, and occasionally a date or motto (see also motto and ring).

[cartouche] [cartouche] [cartouche]
National Flag of Andorra; Detail, Spain (CS); Flag for Generals at Sea 1649–1653, England (CS)

CASE(D)
1) A narrow sleeve-like sack, usually of some decorative, waterproof, material used in order to protect a regimental, unit, service or national colour (or occasionally a parade flag) when outdoors and furled (see also colour 2) flag case 2), and furl(ed) and parade flag 2)).
2) (v) The act of placing the furled colour or parade flag into its case (see also lodging and uncase(d)).
(3) (adj) The term used when that colour or parade flag has been placed into its case, and/or when it is so carried.
CASKET FLAG
See pall flag.

casket flag
(Wikipedia)

CASQUE
An alternative heraldic term for helm – see helm.

casque casque
Arms and Flag of Rataje, Czechia

CASTING THE COLOURS
See flag tossing.
CATERFOIL
An alternative heraldic term for quatrefoil – see quatrefoil 2).

quatrefoil quatrefoil
Arms and Flag of Skjĺk, Norway

CAVALIER (or CAVALIER’S) CROSS
In heraldry see cross pattée.

Cavalier cross Cavalier cross
Arms and Flag of Hyżne, Poland

CELEBRATORY (or CELEBRATION) FLAG
In largely US usage that flag which is displayed to mark a historical or other occasion – a celebration flag or flag of celebration – but see commemorative flag (also memorial flag).

celebratory flag celebratory flag celebratory flag
Centennial Flag of 1918, Illinois, US; Juneteenth flag, US; 40th Anniversary Flag, Kings Dominion Amusement Park, Virginia, US

CELTIC CROSS
The term for a cross used by the ancient Celtic church, it was revived in the 19th century, and has become a symbol of both the Celtic resurgence and of a number of neo-nazi movements. This cross does not usually reach the edges of a shield, canton, panel or flag, but is displayed with a ring or annulet crossing all four arms – a cross-Celtic – but see sun cross and the note below (also annulet cross 2) and ring 1)).

Welch church Flag of the Golden Dawn Movement, Greece Pan-Celtic flag
Flag of the Church in Wales; Flag of the Golden Dawn Movement, Greece; Stiůbhart's Pan-Celtic flag, UK

Note:
The shape (usually decorated with interlace and other motives) became also popular for funerary monuments etc., and has remained so.

CENDAL
See sendal.
CENDRÉE
A heraldic term for the colour ashen grey – see proper.

tincture

CENTRAL SPAN
The central line upon which signal flags are displayed when a vessel is dressed overall – see dressing lines, dress ship, to 1) and dress ship, to 4).
CENTRED (or CENTERED)
The term used when a charge (or charges) is (or are) set in the geometric or visual centre of a flag or the panel it (or they) occupies – see visual centre (also inset, off-set towards and off-centred).

Indiana Baška, Croatia Barbados 1870
Flag of Indiana, US; Flag of Baška, Croatia; Flag of Barbados 1870–1966

CENTRED (CENTERED or CENTRED/CENTERED UPRIGHT) CROSS
See cross 1) (also centred above).

Quebec, CA Zwolle, NL Indianapolis, US
Flag of Quebec, Canada; Flag of Zwolle, The Netherlands; Flag of Indianapolis, US

CEREMONIAL ENSIGN
An ensign flown by naval ships and over naval or military establishments on Sundays or days of national or service celebration (see also Sunday ensign and garrison flag).

Please note that this term does not refer to flags used on parade or those made for indoor display, but to flags and ensigns that are identical with their everyday equivalents except for size and/or care of manufacture (see also parade flag and indoor flag).

CEREMONIAL FLAG (or BANNER)
1) In largely (but not exclusively) East, Central and South European usage, a term employed to describe those national or sub-national flags that are for parade use or display on occasions of local or military significance, and which are often a gonfalon or a more elaborate form of the normal flag – a festive banner or flag (see also banner 4), gonfalon, official flag 2), state service flag, paradeflag 1) and sub-national flag).
2) See ceremonial standard below.

ceremonial flag ceremonial flag ceremonial flag
Ceremonial Flag of Malopolska, Poland; Ceremonial Flag of Rydzyna, Poland; Ceremonial flag of the Naval Force, Albania

Notes
a) With regard to 1), not to be confused with a "flag of ceremony" (the Spanish bandera de ceremonia) which is designed for exclusively indoor use – see indoor flag.
b) Also with regard to 1), in East and Central European usage the ceremonial flag of a community is often created as a unique flag – see unique flag.

CEREMONIAL STANDARD
A term for the standard, or flag, flown on royal ceremonial occasions in (as far as can be discovered) Kelantan, Malaysia in place of the individual standards of any royal family member present (see also royal standard 1), royal standard 2) and standard 1)).

[ceremonial standard]
Ceremonial Standard of Kelantan, Malaysia

CEREMONIAL STATE ENSIGN
A term for the ensign, possibly obsolete, flown (in place of a standard state ensign) on ceremonial state occasions by government entities at sea (see also government ensign under ensign).

Please note that, as far as can be discovered, Johore, Malaysia is the only country which may currently still use such a flag.

[ceremonial ensign]
Ceremonial State Ensign, Johore, Malaysia

CEREMONY OF COLOURS (or COLORS)
See colours 5)

[ceremony of colours] [ceremony of colours]
Naval Ensign, UK; Naval Ensign South Africa 1952–1981

CEREMONY OF CONSECRATION
See consecration.

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