Buzz
Similar to how a basic stock photo can evolve into a viral meme, the peace sign was originally created for a specific cause but later adopted for wider purposes by people worldwide. Designed in 1958 by British artist and activist Gerald Holtom for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the symbol was inspired by flag semaphore signals for the letters N (flags angled downward) and D (one flag up, one down), representing “nuclear disarmament.” Holtom also drew inspiration from the peasant facing execution in Goya’s The Third of May 1808.
Initially, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament distributed ceramic buttons featuring the symbol for protests, but its appeal quickly spread globally, transforming it into a universal anti-war emblem. Despite its widespread recognition, it’s not the sole representation of peace. Below are seven additional symbols you might consider displaying on your vehicle.
1. OLIVE BRANCH
iStock
The olive branch, a timeless emblem of peace and reconciliation, traces its origins to ancient Greece, where it adorned brides and crowned Olympic champions. In Greek mythology, Poseidon, the god of the sea, once clashed with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, for control of Athens. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, creating a spring of seawater, while Athena planted an olive tree with her spear. The citizens, valuing the tree over the undrinkable water, chose Athena, naming the city after her. The olive tree’s symbolism extends into the Abrahamic religions, maintaining its significance as a peace emblem.
2. DOVE
iStock
In the biblical story of Noah, as the floodwaters subsided, Noah released a dove that returned with an olive leaf, signaling the return of life to the earth (Genesis 8:10 – 11). (This was a navigational tactic: releasing birds to locate land.) This narrative established the dove as a
3. WHITE POPPY
iStock
Poppy flowers, which bloomed across European battlefields and graves after World War I, became a poignant symbol of the war’s end. They are famously referenced in John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields.” Post-war, the Royal British Legion encouraged the wearing of red poppies on November 11, Remembrance Day, and used them in wreaths for graves. In 1933, the Women’s Co-operative Guild, an anti-war organization, introduced white poppies to represent both remembrance and a commitment to peace. The white color symbolized an end to bloodshed.
Though not intended to oppose the red poppy, the white poppy has occasionally been viewed as a political statement. The BBC reported that some veterans believed it diminished the significance of the red poppy and their sacrifices, leading to women losing jobs in the 1930s for wearing them. Today, the Royal British Legion neither supports nor opposes the white poppy, while the Peace Pledge Union has adopted its promotion.
4. “V” HAND SYMBOL
Getty Image
The “V” hand gesture, formed by raising the index and middle fingers, has a rich and varied history. During World War II, BBC presenter Douglas “Colonel Britton” Ritchie encouraged resistance fighters in German-occupied regions to use it as a sign of unity and defiance. Representing the first letter of “victory” in French (victoire), Flemish (vrijheid), and English, it became a powerful emblem. Winston Churchill popularized it in the UK, while Charles de Gaulle often used a dramatic full-arm version in his speeches. After the war, the gesture evolved into a peace symbol, embraced by 1960s activists, though it remained widely used, even by figures like Richard Nixon, who famously flashed two V’s upon leaving the White House.
5. PAPER CRANE
iStock
Sadako Sasaki was just two years old when the atomic bomb struck Hiroshima. Years later, radiation-induced leukemia confined her to a hospital bed, where she began folding origami cranes after hearing a Japanese legend that promised a wish to anyone who folded 1000. Some accounts claim she surpassed the goal, while others say she completed 644 before her strength failed. She passed away in 1955 at age 12. Her story transformed the paper crane into a global symbol of peace. Today, statues honoring her stand in Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Seattle’s Peace Park, the latter often adorned with paper cranes left by visitors.
6. PACE RAINBOW FLAG
Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0
In 1961, philosopher and activist Aldo Capitini created a unique flag by sewing together multicolored stripes for a peace march. This rainbow flag, distinct from the gay pride flag, often features the word pace (Italian for "peace") and has become a lasting symbol across Italy. Its popularity surged again in 2002 amid tensions leading up to the second Gulf War.
7. BROKEN RIFLE
Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain
The War Resisters’ International, based in London, employs a powerful logo depicting two hands snapping a rifle in half. Established in 1921, this global organization operates in over 40 countries, using the universally understood image to communicate its anti-war mission. Their newsletter, titled The Broken Rifle, further reinforces this iconic symbol.
