Flags in mourning in France: official mourning and customs

In France, a flag at half-mast accompanies official mourning, but also local tributes and, for some households and associations, private bereavement. Written rules are few: the Ministry of the Interior points out that no statute or regulation sets the rules for half-mast, and that republican tradition and custom apply. How a flag is lowered to half-mast is explained in the guide to half-mast.

Official mourning

During official mourning, the Prime Minister decides on half-mast for the buildings and public buildings of the State. According to an answer of the Ministry of the Interior published in 2025, this decision is passed on by a circular of the General Secretariat of the Government, which the prefect sends to the mayors of the department and whose application the prefect oversees.

The occasions vary: attacks, disasters, the death of a former head of state or of a public figure, a national tribute. The written question behind that answer mentioned the instruction to lower flags on all public buildings after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025. During national mourning, declared for one or more days, the flags stay at half-mast for the whole period set.

Tributes to soldiers

In the Senate in 2022, a senator noted that the armed forces would like half-mast in all State services on the day of the national tribute at the Invalides to soldiers killed on operations. The Government’s answer recalled that the instructions are a matter for the Prime Minister, and that a mayor can decide on half-mast for municipal buildings.

In the armed forces, decree no. 89-655 of 13 September 1989 provides that on the death of the President of the Republic, the flags and standards of the armed forces go into mourning and navy ships fly their ensigns at half-mast.

Local mourning

A mayor can, on their own initiative, lower the flags on municipal buildings: on the death of a former mayor, a firefighter or a police officer of the municipality, or after an accident that has affected residents. This decision needs no instruction from the State. Departments and regions do the same for their own buildings.

Association flags

Veterans’ associations, fire brigades and many societies have their own flag, carried at ceremonies by a flag bearer. At a member’s funeral and at tributes, it is customary to dip the flag at the moment of silence, or to fix a black crêpe tie to the top of the staff. These gestures are part of the associations’ ceremonial.

Private mourning

For private households, no rule governs the flag in times of bereavement. Some families lower their flag on the death of a relative, especially in military or veterans’ families, or when the deceased was attached to the flag. A flag at half the height of the pole or a black ribbon at the top is the usual form. The guide to flag rules covers private flag flying.