Flag raising: celebrate a national day by raising the flag together
Flag raising is a calm take on the ceremony many of us remember from school mornings and public holidays. The scene is a stone plaza at dusk: street lamps along a balustrade, small flags strung between them, and a flagpole on a round three-step base. As the recipient holds the button, the flag climbs the halyard, unfolding as it goes and rippling in the wind like real cloth. At the top a bell rings, searchlights sweep the sky and fireworks burst in the flag's own colours.
The tone is deliberately measured: proud and simple rather than a party. You choose the country, so it works for any nation's day, and it's a thoughtful way to greet a friend or colleague on their national day, or someone celebrating far from home. Share the link in any chat; it opens in the browser with no app to install. The sky then spells out the country's name above the recipient's.
What does the recipient experience?
- The opening says the sender wants to celebrate the day with you. Turn the sound on and tap “Let's begin”.
- Your name appears as the camera moves closer to the flagpole, where the flag is waiting to be raised.
- Press and hold the button to raise the flag; the camera follows it up. Let go and it stays where it is, press again and it carries on. Near the top you'll see “Almost there…”.
- When it reaches the top, a bell rings, searchlights switch on, fireworks open in the flag's colours and two of them write the country (or anniversary) and your name across the sky to a ceremonial tune.
- The sender's message opens on a card, and you can reply with an emoji such as applause, a heart or fireworks.
What can you choose?
For a general national day and for the Fourth of July, the sender picks the flag from a searchable list grouped by continent, with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland listed separately. On Turkey's national holidays the Turkish flag is fixed. The sender also writes the recipient's name, their own name and an optional message; the heading and default message follow the chosen day.
When to send it
Use it on any country's national or independence day. In the US it's also listed under the Fourth of July, where the sky shows how many years have passed since 1776. In Turkey it covers four holidays: April 23 (National Sovereignty and Children's Day), May 19 (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day), August 30 (Victory Day) and October 29 (Republic Day). Links are deleted after seven days, so send it on the day.
Common questions
Which countries can I choose?
Any country with a flag in the list, organised by continent and searchable by name. For a general national day the list starts on the visitor's own country where possible.
What's written in the sky?
For a general national day, the country's name and the recipient's name. On the Fourth of July and Turkey's holidays, the anniversary number takes the country's place.
What if I let go of the button halfway?
The flag simply stops where it is. Press and hold again and it continues from that point; it never slides back down.