<P> 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 . However , there is disagreement about where on a flagpole a flag should be when it is at half - staff . It is often recommended that a flag at half - staff should be lowered only as much as the hoist , or width , of the flag . British flag protocol is that a flag should be flown no less than two - thirds of the way up the flagpole , with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole . It is common for the phrase to be taken literally and for a flag to be flown only half way up a flagpole , although some authorities deprecate that practice . </P>
<P> 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 . However , there is disagreement about where on a flagpole a flag should be when it is at half - staff . It is often recommended that a flag at half - staff should be lowered only as much as the hoist , or width , of the flag . British flag protocol is that a flag should be flown no less than two - thirds of the way up the flagpole , with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole . It is common for the phrase to be taken literally and for a flag to be flown only half way up a flagpole , although some authorities deprecate that practice . </P>
where did the tradition of flying flags at half mast come from
where did the tradition of flying flags at half mast come from
17th century
17th century