Without flags, countries would be forced to identify themselves with their national birds, requiring the United Nations building to be lined with newspaper and covered with a blanket at night. Savor a flag's lack of molting season with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of decorative products from Flag Fables.

Producing pennants, doormats, and other yard-based rectangles, the skilled artisans of Flag Fables festoon once-drab domiciles with vivid ornamentation. The wind-drawn dance of a hand-crafted flag transforms a staid house into a monument to pumpkin carving (full size $62, mid size $57) or America discovering (full size $75, mid size $70), while sports and country-related banderoles gently intone to visitors, "Herein dwells a Luxembourgian Diamondbacks fan." MatMates doormats like the pumpkin cart ($19.95, $44.95 with tray) offer friends, family, and traveling donut salesmen a cheery welcome to your abode, and Magnet Works items add a festive touch to lawns, with four-piece sets such as the It's A New Year collection ($58.95) imbuing diplomatically cohesive flair throughout your house-to-street green zone.

The devoted designers and distributors at Flag Fables have tricked out suburban yardscapes and municipal balconies for more than 20 years, weaving durable, poly-cotton banners that stand the test of time, weather, and prolonged Olympic victory laps. Bear the standard for excellent standard bearing with these washable, iron-able wares, which feature free shipping on some items.

Reviews

Though Flag Fables has received few online reviews, Entrepreneur.com mentioned its growth.