The flag of Samoa is a red field with a blue canton carrying the Southern Cross. The design dates from 1949, more than a decade before the country became independent.
From German rule to the Mau movement
Samoa was under German administration from 1900 to 1914, and during those years the German national flag was the one flown. New Zealand took over in 1914, and the Union Jack was used until a Samoan flag was developed.
The push for independence after the Second World War produced a design of Samoa's own. It was established in 1949, but it only became the flag of an independent state on January 1, 1962, when New Zealand's administration ended.
Red, blue, and five stars
The red field carries a blue rectangle in the canton, and inside it five white stars form the Southern Cross. Red stands for courage and bravery, blue for freedom.
The Southern Cross fixes Samoa's position in the Southern Hemisphere and is a common emblem among southern Pacific nations. The stars are part of Samoan lore as well as navigation.
Usage
The flag flies on government buildings and at national celebrations such as Independence Day. Protocol has it flown higher than any other flag in the region, and it is expected to be displayed properly indoors and out. Different sizes and variants exist for government vessels and certain offices, including ensigns for naval and maritime use.
Beyond official occasions it appears at traditional ceremonies and in Samoan art, where it is a common subject.
Similar flags or influences
Samoa is one of several Pacific countries using the Southern Cross, New Zealand among them. The shared constellation reflects shared geography rather than any borrowing between the designs.