GREECE
When the government adopted the flags of the Greek army and navy in 1822, they all bore the same white cross, a symbol of Christian faith.
Blue and white were chosen officially as emblems during the war for independence. Blue represents the sky and the sea and white the purity of the freedom fighters.
The nine horizontal bands refer to the nine syllables of the Greek phrase: Eleftheria i Thanatos (Freedom or Death).
The flag was reintroduced in 1978.