BEIRUT: Lebanon is often considered a land of many flags. Throughout the country, particularly during elections, the colors of political parties and former militias are proudly displayed in their respective districts. And during the World Cup, flags from across the world can be seen, as football fans show their support for their favorite teams.

But with Lebanese recently united by the vote for Jeita Grotto to become the Seven Natural Wonders, and last week by their World Cup qualifier victory against South Korea, we might be seeing a lot more Lebanese raising the cedar flag. Last year, Lebanon unfurled the world’s largest flag, measuring 325 meters in length and 202 meters in width.

“Every year there’s more demand for the flag. This started after the war,” said Michel Sayegh, manager of Lucky Car, an auto accessories store near Downtown Beirut which started selling Lebanese flags 18 years ago, just a few years after the end of the 1975-1990 Civil War.

These days, he said, Lebanese buy their national flag for every occasion – rallies, holidays, even conflict.

“There was a big jump in flag sales after the assassination of [former Prime Minister Rafik] Hariri, and then there was a lot of demand again when the two camps split,” Sayegh said.

Still, he said that since he began selling flags, his best customers have been Lebanese expatriates, who feel obliged to bring back their national flag to their adopted homes.

The Lebanese flag, with the green cedar tree on a white background with red stripes above and below, was adopted on Dec. 7, 1943 – just over two weeks after the country achieved independence on Nov. 22. But its symbols, intended to be neutral to the country’s various communities, date back at least a thousand years. The cedar symbolizes eternity, while white represents peace and Lebanon’s snow-capped mountains, and red the blood the Lebanese shed fighting for independence.

Flag Day falls on Nov. 21, one day before Independence Day, as decided by Butros Harb, then minister of national education, in 1979.

Every year at the American University of Beirut, students, staff and faculty take part in a ceremony in front of College Hall.

Talal Nizameddin, AUB’s dean of students has been presiding over the ceremony every year for over a decade.

“We are gathered to celebrate our national belonging and love for Lebanon,” Nizameddin told dozens of students gathered outside West Hall at midday on Monday. “Let us remember that what unites us is far more important than what drives us apart.”

“There’s definitely been an increase in pride and celebration, and a steady return to the flag,” Nizameddin tells The Daily Star

“One of the reasons, ironically, is the political divisions. We just had a huge [student] election, and both camps said they were proud to raise the Lebanese flag.”

A student from the southern town of Adaysseh, where there was a clash on the border with Israel last August during which the Israeli Army killed three Lebanese soldiers and a journalist, has donated a flag to AUB for the occasion.

“This flag represents the hardships of the southerners and more generally of the Lebanese people, and the dignity and pride with which they protect their integrity and sovereignty,” Nizameddin said during the ceremony.

But for many Lebanese, Flag Day is just another day – easy to forget.

“I don’t know what day Flag Day is,” a police officer in Gemmayzeh said, causing his colleague to interject that “The flag is important.”

Boulos Shamoun, a hardware salesman in Gemmayzeh said he’d never heard of Flag Day. In fact, he’s not too fond of Independence Day either.

“People here like rallies. But it’s all talk, no action,” he said. “Most people in Lebanon don’t care, because they’ve never had independence. There’s no feeling of independence here. They sell it, but they don’t feel it.”

But for Ali Qobeissi, a waiter in Saifi, Flag Day has a special place in his memory.

“I know Flag Day,” he said. “Our flag symbolizes our existence.”

Growing up, Qobeissi and his siblings would always hoist the Lebanese flag on their balcony on holidays, including Flag Day. He says he doesn’t do it anymore, “maybe because I grew up or got busy with work.”