Before the independence in 1918, there was a lot of discussion around the national flag. As a conclusion, a horizontally divided flag with red and green - colors found in Lithuanian ethnic clothing - were proposed. Green was added for a more brighter image, and the three horizontally divided flag at the end became the official version. Yellow represents the sun, light, and prosperity, green, the beauty of nature, freedom, hope, red, the land, courage, blood shed for the nation.