Flag of the East India Company English East India Company adopted a flag of thirteen red and white stripes with the flag of England in canton. It was reported that the number of stripes was chosen because many of the East India Company's shareholders were Freemasons, and the number thirteen is considered powerful in freemasonry. However, different reports gave varying initial numbers of stripes. The flag caused problems for the East India Company at first when trading in the Far East, because of its use of the St George's Cross. In Japan in 1616, the Company's ships were turned away because the cross on the flag
Flag of Macedonia (Greece) Flag of Macedonia (Greece) The flag of Macedonia () represents a Vergina Sun with 16 rays extending from the blue field. The Vergina Sun on a blue background is commonly used as an unofficial flag of the three peripheries, the prefectures and the municipalities of Macedonia. It is also used by organisations of the Macedonian Greek diaspora, such as the Pan-Macedonian Associations of the United States and Australia, as well as numerous commercial enterprises. Although the Vergina Sun is an official state emblem of Greece, no such provisions have been made for the flag of Macedonia, which remains unofficial. It