Editing Flag throwing (section)

==History==
The origins of flag throwing are difficult to pinpoint - it has possible roots in [[Roman Empire|Roman]], [[Babylonia|Babylonian]] and [[Assyrian Empire|Assyrian]] history.<ref>https://www.fisb.net/site/la-storia-della-bandiera/</ref> It was popular with [[medieval]] [[guild]]s (principally in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Flanders, and Southern Netherlands) for use during times of war, to allow troops to communicate to each other across the battleground. A guild's banner or [[flag]] was considered a symbol of purity, and as such it was not allowed to touch the ground.<ref>https://italoamericano.org/flag-throwing-italian/</ref> After a battle was won, flag bearers, along with military bands, would take part in victory parades on their return home. 

Today, flag throwing is part of many traditional festivals in Italy, such as [[Siena|Siena's]] [[Palio]]. <ref>http://www.aboutsiena.com/palio-of-Siena.html</ref> It is also a popular sport in schools in the US, where it is known as "color guard". Color guard is practiced along with marching bands.