Hope you like the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia episode.

I'm actually pretty surprised and pleased that most of the feedback was relatively positive.

I mean if you type in "Macedonia" on YouTube, most of the videos have like high ratios of dislikes and rage comments from

people that have issues with the country.

However, for GeographyNow, not bad!

How do you think it was handled? Let me know.

However, this video is going to touch up on some other sensitive areas

because we have to discuss the flag.

Which has it's own cesspool of controversy.

But we got to jump in.

So without further ado!

♫ Flag Friday Intro ♫

Oh man, if you thought the whole name issue was mind-boggling, wait until you get to the flag.

There have literally been fights breaking out over this.

First of all, the flag is made up of a red field stylized with a yellow sun in the center.

Featuring 8 broadening rays extending outwards to the edges.

The sun represents the "New Sun of Liberty" as referred to in the national anthem entitled "Today Over Macedonia".

Now keep in mind, this is the current flag and it was adopted in 1995.

However, they gained their independence from the Former Yugoslav Republic in 1991.

So prior to 1995, what kind of flag did they use?

Well, they sort of this one and it kind of angered a lot of people.

Like, both Greeks and Albanians.

Now when it comes to Balkans, just a little side caveat, you know its bad when

both the Greeks and Albanians agree on the same thing and protest against you with it.

The reason why is because this is the symbol of the Vergina sun, sometimes also referred to as the Vergina Star.

A historical symbol that appeared in ancient Greek art and archaeological sites

especially on the graves of royal figures.

Now the Albanians were upset because they said that this symbol only recognized the Macedonians

and pretty much marginalized their presence as a blatantly noticeable people-group in the country.

And if you watched the country episode, you can kind of understand why the Greeks were upset.

It got so bad that the Greeks actually imposed an "economic blockade" against them until they changed it in 1995.

The funny thing is, their current flag kind of looks similar to the Japanese imperial flag

and their former democratic and socialist republic flags from the Yugoslav times

looks similar to the flags of Vietnam and China.

Now, we move onto the emblem.

The national emblem is made up of 2 garlands on the left and right

made up of wheat sheaves, tobacco and opium poppies, all tied with an embroidered ribbon at the bottom.

That's right, just like I mentioned in the country video, they love opium and tobacco so much,

they put it on their national emblem.

In the center is a mountain representing the Šar mountains and Mt. Korab.

A lake representing Ohrid and the Vardar river.

And a sunrise representing freedom.

There used to be a red socialist star on top, but then they removed it in 2009.

In 2014, the government proposed a code of arms to replaced the national emblem and

it is still kind of in the process. Not exactly official yet, and to no surprise

this image was adapted for yet another controversial source.

The image is attributed to the illustration from Jerome de Bara's book, "Le Blason des armoiries".

The propose code of arms displays a red lion defaced on a golden shield topped with a golden Mural Crown.

Now this image is technically not breaking the "Greek rule" because its based of an attributed depiction.

But the condentation to Alexander the Great is still there regardless.

So that's about it for the Republic of Macedonia or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's symbolism

is not short of causing some intense discussion. But, none the less they still make up a small part of the

most dysfunctional family in Europe, the Balkans.

This has been Flag Friday. You've just been flagged. Stay cool. Stay tuned.