Kiritimati 'Christmas' Island Flag of Kiribati

 There are several Christmas Islands!  Perhaps the most famous is the one next to Indonesia that is populated mostly by Chinese Australians.  There is a Christmas island in Canada, Nova Scotia.  Tasmania even has two Christmas Islands.  But a close runner up to equatorial Christmas Island of Australia is Christmas Island of Kiribati.

The flag for Kiritimati— Christmas Island of the North — is loosely based upon the flag of Christmas Island of Australia.  However there are several differences.  First, the central disc has the outline of Kiritimati. In the bottom half, the national bird of the Kiribati is flying in the lower red half, which is the frigate bird.  On the upper blue half is the 'Northern Cross Constellation' which is within the constellation of Cygnus.  Additionally a seven pointed star near the fly represents the star Vega, which was made popular in movie Contact 1997.

The islanded nation of Kiribati is a geographic wonderland, since it sits at the cross hairs of geography.  Kiribati straddles the equator and 180th Meridian, which is the opposite of the Prime Meridian.  Likewise the island of Kiritimati translates to Christmas Island.  Many older maps retain this name.

Like Aussie Christmas Island, Central Pacific Christmas Island was a British Colony.  During the War of Endless Tears both Christmas Islands were occupied by the Imperial Japanese Navy.   Eventually, the UK regained control of the Kiribati and gave it independence in 1978.  Then in 1983 the US released its claim to several of its islands.

Interesting aspect about Christmas Island of the North is that it has cities names Poland, Paris, London and every one's favorite name for a city... Banana.