Why Is the Flag Folded 13 Times?

The United States flag folding ceremony is steeped in tradition and symbolism.

The flag of the United States has a deep history and a unique set of traditions. While not part of the official Flag Code, it's customary to fold the flag in a precise way when not in use, and on special occasions this is done as part of a flag folding ceremony. Though the origins of the ceremony are largely unknown, it is rich with significance and symbolism.

The Origin of the Flag Folding Ceremony

The flag folding ceremony most likely developed during Word War I, when a strong patriotic sentiment was part of the culture and flags were becoming increasingly symbolic of that patriotism. In 1923, a conference was organized to establish a code of etiquette for the flag, and in 1930, a book about the flag by James A. Moss, "The Flag of the United States, its History and Symbolism," was published.

The Significance of the Numbers

Historically, the triangular shape and the three sides appears to be more important than the number of folds in the ceremony. Jerald A. Merrick, former President of the National Flag Foundation, wrote that the three sides are symbolic of the tri-cornered hats that Revolutionary War soldiers war, the three colors of the flag, the three branches of government, the three primary documents (the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights), and more.

There's no evidence that there was any original significance behind the number of folds, however it's been conjectured that they might represent the 13 colonies, just like flag's 13 stripes.

The Meaning of Each Fold

Although there is no official or historical significance to each fold of the flag, it's become popular to ascribe a specific meaning to each one, and these are often read aloud during the flag folding ceremony. There are numerous different scripts that can be read, many with different meanings for the folds, and they usually vary from organization to organization.

References

• Conder Flags: Flag Folding Facts
• "Flag: An American Biography"; Marc Leepson, Nelson DeMille; 2006

Resources

• USHistory.org: Flag-Folding Ceremony
• USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America