Leskovac Flag
Leskovac Flag
The flag of the small southern Serbian city of Leskovac includes a Greek Cross, four golden hazelnuts and a double-headed eagle.
The geographical location of the city puts it on an important crossroad. Trains from the west to Skoplje, Salonica and Athens pass through Leskovac and the major north-south road on the eastern edge of the city connects to Hungary and Greece.
These crossroads have given the city an important advantage for the development of its textile industry and this seems to be the popular understanding of the symbolism of the cross in the city flag, rather than any particular religious connection. It is taken for granted that Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion in Serbia and any symbolism to emphasize that is unnecessary.
The braided ropework within the cross symbolises the textile industry, which began with hemp rope, then lace, and now specialises in knitted fabrics, socks and other clothing. Leskovac is to Serbia what Manchester is to northern England. Chemicals, food, wood and metal are also important industries for the city.
The blue background of the flag can be associated with the river Morava (blue: modar) and the four golden hazelnuts reflect the city's name (hazelnut: lješnjak). The double-headed eagle in the centre is based on the emblem of the Palaiologos dynasty; the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire.
For the city flag, the 'crossroads' mentioned above can best be seen by looking at maps; you cannot see much of a real crossing when you drive down the E75 from Belgrade. Neither can you see many hazelnuts in local parks such as Pasha's drinking fountain.
And the most elusive item, with no recorded sighting, is a double-headed eagle.
Go back to the main Serbian Cross page.
For an excellent site giving more detailed information about Serbian flags, see: zastave-grbovi.com, and for flags in general, a very good flag locator is at: flagid.org