Among all the flags in the world, there is one that is particularly interesting because it changes four times a year: I am referring to that of the micronation of Užupis, in Lithuania. The design is always the same: a white background on which the “holy hand” is located, i.e. a hand on a colored background with a hole in the center. The peculiarity is that this color changes, becoming blue in winter, yellow in summer, red in autumn and green in spring.
The birth of the independent Republic of Užupis is actually quite absurd: the locals decided to declare their independence as an April Fool’s joke in 1997, also equipping themselves with a symbolic army made up of about ten units. Clearly the micronation never obtained recognition either from Lithuania or from other countries, but what was originally born as a joke continued over time, up to the present day.
Like any self-respecting micronation, Užupis also immediately decided to equip itself with a flag. And as anticipated, this changes color during the year to symbolize the natural cycle of the seasons, reflecting the philosophy of constant change dear to the founding artists. Furthermore, being part of the old city of Vilnius, among other things, this micronation is in all respects part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
