Red star

A red star, five-pointed and filled, is a symbol that has often historically been associated with communist ideology, particularly in combination with the hammer and sickle, but is also used as a purely socialist symbol in the 21st century. It has been widely used in flags, state emblems, monuments, ornaments, and logos. A golden star or yellow star is also a closely-associated symbol to the red star in the context of contemporary China and Vietnam, similarly representing communism and socialism. Some former Warsaw Pact nations have passed laws banning it, describing it as a symbol of far-left totalitarian ideology. The red star has also been used in a non-communist context and before the emergence of this movement, in symbols of countries and states since the 19th century. It appears for example on the flags of New Zealand and the U.S. state of California. The red star has also been used as logo by private agencies and corporations, such as the oil brand Texaco and the beer Heineken.