Burma, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, adopted a new state flag on 21 October 2010 to replace the former socialist flag in use since 1974. The new flag was introduced along with implementing changes to the country's name, which were laid out in the 2008 Constitution.

The design of the flag has three horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a five-pointed white star in the middle. The three colors of the stripes are meant to symbolize solidarity, peace and tranquility, and courage and decisiveness. 

Proposals for change

 

Flag proposed in 2006

A new design for the national flag was proposed on November 10, 2006, during a constitutional convention. The new flag would have consisted of three equally sized green, yellow, and red horizontal stripes, with a white star in the hoist end of the green stripe.

In September 2007, another new design was proposed, this time with a larger white star in the middle and with the stripes in a different order, namely: yellow, green, red. That same order was used in the flag of the State of Burma during the Japanese occupation of Burma, which featured a green peacock in the centre.

The new flag is basically a fusion of the flag of the State of Burma without the royal peacock, taking instead the white star that symbolized the Union of Burma in its flag.

Adoption of new flag

The flag proposed in September 2007 was included in the new constitution, and was accepted with the 2008 referendum. Officials were told to lower the old flag in favour of the new one only shortly before 3:00 p.m. local time on 21 October 2010. Orders were also handed out to ensure all old flags were burned. The adoption of the new flag was announced on state media just prior to the flag changing.

The new flag is a horizontal tricolors flag of yellow, green and red charged with a five-pointed white star in the middle of the field. The yellow represents solidarity; the green symbolizes peace, tranquility and lush greenery; the red represents courage and determination; and the white star stands for the significance of the union of the country. 

History

 

Flag of the Union of Burma (in use 4 January 1948 – 3 January 1974).
Flag ratio: 5:9

The two flags used by the country immediately prior to the 2010 flag both originated in the Burmese Resistance, which adopted a red flag with a white star when fighting the occupying Japanese forces during World War II.

The flag adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom on 4 January 1948 consisted of a red field with a blue canton. The blue canton was charged with one large white star, representing the union, surrounded by 5 smaller stars representing the main ethnic groups found within the newly independent state.  This flag remained in use until January 1974.

The new flag adopted on 3 January 1974 upon the declaration of a socialist republic by Ne Win depicted 14 stars, encircling a gear and a rice plant in a blue-coloured canton against a red field. The rice stands for agriculture, the gear represents industry, and the 14 stars represent each of the 14 member states of the Union.

Earlier historical flags of Burmese monarchs featured the green peacock. The use of the green peacock was continued during British colonial times and the State of Burma.

The flag of the banned National League for Democracy party features both a peacock and a white star. 

 Historic flags of Burma

The Golden Hintha flag (1300-1500)	Flag of Third Burmese Empire under Konbaung dynasty (1752-1885)	Flag of British Burma as a colony of British India (1824-1939)	Flag of British Burma, as a separate colony (1939-1943)
Flag of the State of Burma (1943–1945)	Flag of British Burma (1945-1948)	Flag of the Union of Burma (1948-1974)	Flag of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1974-1988) and the Union of Myanmar (1988-2010)