The Cedar of Lebanon has been a symbol of Lebanon since Biblical times and in the 18th century the Maronites used a white flag with a cedar tree in the center, the white representing purity and Lebanon's snow capped peaks. It seems that in the First World War, Lebanese nationalists added the red stripes, which serve two purposes, firstly they represent the spilt blood of the Lebanese people who suffered greatly in their struggle for independence and secondly, red and white were the colors of the Lebanese Legion. The Lebanese Legion was part of the Legion d'Orient, which was formed in 1916 by the French and was made up from Christian volunteers from Armenia, Syria, and Lebanon. The Lebanese Legion was the forerunner of the Lebanese Army.

After the First World War, when Lebanon was under French mandate, the French tricolor was used with a cedar tree in the middle. The constitution of Lebanon promulgated on 23rd May 1926 said: 'Article 5: The Lebanese flag is blue, white, red with a cedar in the white section'. This article was changed on 7th December 1943 and the Lebanese flag was constitutionally adopted: 'The Lebanese flag is composed of three horizontal stripes two red

ones framing a white one. The top of the white stripe is equal to double of each of the red stripes. In the center of the white stripe figures a green cedar tree the width of which occupies the third of the latter and which, at its top and base, touches each of the red stripes'.

Various versions of the flag of Lebanon can be found as the description of the tree can be interpreted in more than one way. The tree could be totally green, it can have a brown base, or it can have a brown base and branches. A slightly smaller tree that does not touch the red stripes is also common. It would seems that these variations in the Lebanese flag are apt as they go some way to mirror the diversity of the Lebanese people.