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Jolly Rogers pirate flags -- fun, facts, and history

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What is a Jolly Roger?

The Jolly Roger is a particular flag flown to identify a ship as a pirate ship. While the most common design is a skull and crossbones motif, a plain red flag was also used. This red flag was an indication that the sailors would neither give quarter nor expect it, and would fight to the death if they boarded a ship.

The skull and crossbones design has been dated back to the late 1600s as many privateers changed to the more lucrative field of piracy. No single design was used; the image varied from a simple death's head to incorporation of an hourglass or other imagery symbolic of death.

Table of Contents

  2. Pirate flags for home, garden, and ship
  3. Jolly Roger windsocks, garden flags, and banners
  4. Large Jolly Roger flags
  5. More Jolly Roger flags
  6. Pictures of the Jolly Roger
  8. Pirate parties are great for kids of all ages
  9. Pirate party banners, hats, and decorations
  10. Pirate party favours
  11. More Jolly Roger party supplies
  12. Need more pirate party ideas?
  14. For true pirate fans
  15. Jolly Rogers for your kitchen and bath
  18. Looking for a pirate costume?
  19. Decorate your Christmas tree with Jolly Rogers
  20. The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves
  22. Jolly Roger sewing patches

Pirate flags

Pirate flags for home, garden, and ship

Whether you own a boat or just want to liven up your garden, Jolly Roger flags are a great choice if you love pirates. They come in every size from tiny garden size to standard 3 x 5 flags and larger, so there is a pirate flag to suit your needs. Plus, it's a great flag to fly for Halloween!

Jolly Roger windsocks, garden flags, and banners

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Large Jolly Roger flags

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More Jolly Roger flags

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Pictures of the Jolly Roger

2010-107-8 Flag, "Jolly Roger" USS Hawes FFG-53 by Naval History & Heritage Command
Jolly Roger by Joe Shlabotnik
Jolly Roger by '|'||'| '|'[]||{
Jolly Roger by Joe Shlabotnik
Jolly Roger by internets_dairy
Jolly Roger's by wrestlingentropy
Jolly Roger in Brooklyn by emilydickinsonridesabmx
Roger that by :: shodan ::
Original Jolly Roger by when_night_falls
Jolly Roger by Alex Barth
Jolly Roger by Jonas_H
curated content from Flickr

Jolly Roger party supplies

Pirate parties are great for kids of all ages

Children and adults alike enjoy pirate-themed parties. Of course, the primary motif of such parties is the Jolly Roger. The Jolly Roger image is available on everything from invitations to banners to tablecloths, everything you need to create a pirate themed party. You can even create bags of pirate "booty" in special cellophane bags as party favours.

Pirate party banners, hats, and decorations

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Pirate party favours

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More Jolly Roger party supplies

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Need more pirate party ideas?

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More Jolly Rogers

For true pirate fans

If you really love pirates, you can decorate your home and yourself in a Jolly Roger motif. With the recent pirate popularity, the Jolly Roger appears on everything from T-shirts to door mats. It's easy to find just the right items to decorate your home.

Jolly Rogers for your kitchen and bath

door mat, shower curtain, decals, towels

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Looking for a pirate costume?

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Decorate your Christmas tree with Jolly Rogers

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The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves

a T-shirt to live by

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Jolly Roger sewing patches

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  • floridainvestigator Jan 8, 2012 @ 6:47 pm | delete
    A very complete lens on all things pirate flag related!
  • DeterminedDolphin Nov 3, 2011 @ 12:52 pm | delete
    Ahoy thar matey ;) Great Jolly Roger lens. I just love all sorts of pirate booty and swag.
  • greenlungsofpoland Oct 24, 2011 @ 1:50 pm | delete
    Nice lens def a novel idea
  • karmicchristian Oct 22, 2011 @ 2:36 pm | delete
    The flags are flying high indeed! :)
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tealmermaid

I'm a 30-ish stay at home mom who likes costuming, weird kitsch stuff, world cultures, and gluten-free cooking. Check out my lensography to see my... more »

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