<P> The Sovereignty flag was never recognized as an official flag in South Carolina, but there are also claims that it was flown for a short period of time in South Carolina after its secession on December 20, 1860 . Another significant flag is the "South Carolina Secession Flag"; the day after South Carolina seceded a red flag, with two tails, a large white star and an upside down crescent moon at the top by the flag staff was raised over the Charleston Custom House . It then spread to other cities as a symbol of secession . </P> <P> A similar flag was flown by Cadets from The Citadel in 1861 as they manned defenses at Morris Island against Union supply ships . This flag (now known as "Big Red") featured a white palmetto on a red field with a reversed (inward - facing) crescent . After its recovery from storage in an Iowa warehouse, the flag is now flown by the Citadel's Corps of Cadets as their official spirit flag . </P> <P> While the flag invariably includes a white palmetto and crescent design on a blue background, state law does not provide "specifications for the shape, size, design or placement" of the symbols, or the exact color of the background . As a result, flags from different manufacturers may have different appearances . A committee of the South Carolina Senate held a hearing on the issue in January 2018, but did not immediately advance a bill to standardize the design . </P> <P> Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, koozies, holiday decorations and other accessories featuring the flag's palmetto and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other southeastern states as a symbol of the state's long - standing heritage . It is also common for alumni and supporters of the state's main universities (The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Furman University, the College of Charleston, Winthrop University, Wofford College, and The Citadel) to display the state flag in their school colors . </P>

What does the symbol of a palm tree and crescent moon mean