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Half-mast is flying a flag below the summit of the mast on a ship. The term "half-staff" is used when referring to a flag flying below the summit on a pole. In many countries this is seen as a symbol of respect, mourning, or distress.〔(Flags at half mast )〕 The tradition of flying the flag at half-mast began in the 17th century. According to some sources, the flag is lowered to make room for an "invisible flag of death" flying above.〔Bartram, G., (A Guide to Flag Protocol in the United Kingdom ), an extract from the book ''British Flags and Emblems", The Flag Institute.〕 When hoisting a flag that is to be displayed at half-mast, it should be hoisted to the finial for an instant, then lowered to half-mast. Likewise, when the flag is lowered at the end of the day, it is to be hoisted to the finial for an instant, and then lowered. ==Australia== The flag of Australia is flown half-mast in Australia: *On the death of the Sovereign – from the time of announcement of the death up to and including the funeral. On the day the accession of the new Sovereign is proclaimed, it is customary to raise the flag to the peak from 11 a.m.; *On the death of a member of a royal family; *On the death of the Governor-General or a former Governor-General; *On the death of the head of state of another country with which Australia has diplomatic relations – the flag would be flown on the day of the funeral; *On ANZAC day the flag is flown half-mast until noon; *On Remembrance Day flags are flown at peak till 10:30 am, at half-mast from 10:30am to 11:03am, then at peak the remainder of the day; *On the death of a distinguished Australian citizen. Flags in any locality may be flown at half-mast on the death of a notable local citizen or on the day, or part of the day, of their funeral. Recent examples include the death of naturalist Steve Irwin, actor Heath Ledger, esteemed international opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland, and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. In the case of cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died after being struck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield cricket match, the Australian flag was flown at half-mast at Cricket NSW headquarters on 27 November 2014 - the day of his death, as well as on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. *At times of natural disaster such as bushfires or tragedy. For example, in the days immediately following the Black Saturday bushfires, many flags of all types were flown at half-mast in spontaneous acknowledgement of the enormous loss of life; the then Prime Minister announced that the Australian Flag would be flown at half-mast on 7 February, in remembrance of the victims. On 19 July 2014, the Australian flag flew half-mast across the country in tribute to the lives lost in the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 incident. On 16 December 2014, flags on all NSW government buildings, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, flew at half-mast after the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Half-mast」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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