How did the Jolly Roger come about?
The title Jolly Roger is thought to come from the French phrase “joli rouge” which means “pretty red”. The original pirate flags were blood red rather than black and white and this signalled that no mercy would be given once the pirates boarded and battle ensued.
Why did pirates use skull and crossbones?
Historically, the skull and crossbones symbol was used by pirate ships to inform the targets they’re about to attack. Today, it is a globally popular symbol. Besides being used as a fashion template, it also symbolizes any form of resistance against authorities.
Why did pirates raise the black?
Historical accounts indicate that, should a pirate ship raise a black flag, it indicated that so long as the ship they were attacking surrendered with no resistance, they would be given quarter. This flag indicated that no mercy would be shown to anyone aboard the ship that was about to be attacked.
Was the Jolly Roger a real flag?
A rare 18th Century red Jolly Roger pirate flag has gone on display at Portsmouth’s navy museum. The flag was captured in battle off the North African coast in 1780 by Lt Richard Curry, who later became an admiral. Pirates used skull and crossbones flags to frighten passing ships into surrendering without a fight.
What does a pure black flag mean?
The Black Flag was flown by certain irregular Confederate Army units in the American Civil War of 1861-1865 to symbolize that they would neither give, nor accept quarter; symbolizing the opposite of the white flag of surrender. The Anarchist black flag has been an anarchist symbol since the 1880s.
Can I swim with red flag?
The most serious of all beach warning flags, red flags warn swimmers of severe hazards in the water. One red flag means that the surf is high or there are dangerous currents or both. Though you can still swim if there is a red flag, you should use extreme caution and go in the water only if you’re a keen swimmer.