halfstaff

Half-staff is a position for displaying a flag on a flagpole, used to signify mourning, tribute, or solemn respect. When a flag is flown at half-staff, it is lowered from the full-staff height to a point roughly halfway up the pole. The term is most common in American English as “half-staff”; in British usage the equivalent term is “half-mast.” The concept may be described in different ways in various countries, but the underlying idea is a reduced, respectful display.

Use and protocols

Flags are flown at half-staff by official order or ceremonial practice during periods of national mourning, after the death of prominent public figures, or on days of remembrance. The precise duties, durations, and who issues the proclamation vary by country and level of government, but the intention is generally uniform: to mark solemnity or grief. The flag is typically raised to full-staff before being lowered to half-staff, and when the designated period ends, it is raised again to full-staff for regular display. Some jurisdictions specify that the flag remains at half-staff from sunrise to sunset, while others permit variations depending on the occasion.

Origins and variations

The practice has nautical origins, where lowering a flag on a ship indicated mourning. From there it spread to land-based flag etiquette and is now observed by many nations, with some regional differences in terminology and timing. While the core idea is consistent, the exact rules for when to begin and end half-staff display, and which authorities issue orders, differ by country and local authority.