ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flag of Florida

The flag of Florida is a special symbol that represents the state of Florida. It is made up of a few different colors and shapes that have important meanings.

First, the flag has a red cross on a white background. This cross is called the saltire, and it looks like a big plus sign. The saltire represents the cross that Spanish explorers used in the past. They were the first people from Europe to visit Florida.

In the middle of the saltire, there is Florida's state seal. A seal is like a stamp that shows something important. The state seal shows some pictures that are significant to Florida. It has a picture of a Native American woman weaving a basket. Native Americans were the first people to live in Florida. The seal also shows a picture of a steamboat. Steamboats were used a long time ago to carry people and goods on the water. They were a very important way of transportation in the early days of Florida.

On top of the seal, there is a picture of Florida's state bird, the mockingbird. The mockingbird is a bird that can mimic the sounds of other birds. That means it can copy the noises that other birds make. It is a very special bird to Florida.

Finally, at the bottom of the seal, there is a picture of some orange trees. Florida is known for its orange trees because it grows a lot of oranges. Oranges are tasty fruits that are orange in color and have a citrusy taste.

So, the flag of Florida has a red cross, a state seal with a Native American woman, a steamboat, a mockingbird, and orange trees. All of these things represent important parts of the history and culture of Florida.