Flags are flown at half-mast (half-staff) as a visible sign of mourning, respect, or solidarity following the death of notable individuals or after tragedies and national events. The practice dates back to naval traditions and has become a widespread protocol in many countries to signal collective grief and remembrance. Key points:
- Purpose: Mourning and remembrance for individuals or events of national or international significance, and expressions of solidarity after disasters or tragedies.
- Origins: Historically tied to ships lowering their sails to half-maff or half-mast as a sign of mourning; the term has since broadened to include land-based flag displays.
- How it’s applied: A flag is raised to the top of the pole for an instant, then lowered to the half-way point, and later raised again before final lowering at day’s end; exact heights and procedures can vary by country and specific protocol.
- Variations: Some nations use “half-mast” while others use “half-staff” depending on local terminology; guidance is provided by official government or military sources for when and how to apply the display.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official guidelines from a specific country (for example, the United States or the United Kingdom) to detail the exact moments to raise to full height and the usual durations for half-height display.
