Flag of Guatemala

The national flag of Guatemala, often referred to as "Pabellón Nacional" (literally, "National Flag") or "Azul y Blanco" ("Blue and White") features two colors: sky blue and white. The two sky blue stripes represent the fact that Guatemala is a land located between two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean sea); and the sky over the country (see Guatemala's national anthem). The white signifies peace and purity. The blue and white colors, like those of several other countries in the region, are based on the flag of the former Federal Republic of Central America.

Republic of Guatemala
UseState and war flag, state and naval ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion5:8
Adopted17 August 1871
DesignA vertical triband of Maya blue (hoist-side and fly-side) and white with the National Emblem centered on the white band.
Civil Ensign
UseCivil flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion5:8
Adopted17 August 1871
DesignA vertical triband of Maya blue (hoist-side and fly-side) and white.
Flag of Guatemala flying on an outdoor flagpole
Guatemalan child holding the Flag of Guatemala
Members of the Armed Forces raising the flag during Flag Day

In the center of the flag is the Guatemalan coat of arms. It includes the resplendent quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala that symbolizes liberty; a parchment scroll bearing the date of Central America's independence from Spain, 15 September 1821; crossed Remington[1] rifles, indicating Guatemala's willingness to defend itself by force if need be; a bay laurel crown, the symbol for victory; and crossed swords, representing honor. It is one of four national flags among UN member states that features a firearm, along with those of Mozambique, Haiti, and Bolivia.

It is one of five national flags that use the ratio 5:8, with the others being Argentina, Palau, Poland, and Sweden.

History

The Federal Republic of Central America flag was used in Guatemala until 1851, when a pro-Spanish faction took over and added the Spanish colors of red and yellow to the flag. The original colors were restored on 17 August 1871, but as vertical (rather than horizontal) stripes in order to distinguish it from other flags and with a new coat of arms.

The resplendent quetzal previously appeared in the 1830s in the flag of Los Altos, the sixth state in the Federal Republic.

In 2008 a flag called the Bandera de Los Pueblos (Flag of indigenous peoples) was adopted by law and is shown together with the national flag of Guatemala in all events featuring the President of Guatemala since then. The flag is divided in four parts, red, yellow, white and black, each colour representing Xinca people, Garifuna people, Maya people, and Ladino people, respectively.[2]

These colours are also part of the Qʼanil, a Maya symbol in which each color represents a point of the compass, an element of nature and a part of the human being. Qʼanil means "seed" in Mayan languages, and is also one of the 20 days of the Maya calendar. Aimed at promoting "interculturality" in Guatemala, the Bandera de los Pueblos was received with disinterest by the leaders of the peoples, who do not seem to have been consulted.[3]

Color scheme Maya blue White
Pantone[3] 297 Safe
RGB 73-151-208 255-255-255
CMYK 64.9-27.4-0-18.4 0-0-0-0-0
Web colors 4997D0 FFFFFF

Ethnic group flags
FlagUse
Bandera de los Pueblos, flag attributed to indigenous peoples.
Flag of Garifuna

Government flags

Military flags
FlagUse
Flag of the Minister of Defence
Flag of the Chief of the General Staff

Political flags
FlagUse
Flag of the National Liberation Movement
Flag of the Guatemalan Party of Labour
Flag of the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity

Department flags
FlagDepartment
Alta Verapaz
Baja Verapaz
Chimaltenango
Chiquimula
El Progresso
Escuintla
Guatemala
Huehuetenango
Izabal
Jalapa
Jutiapa
Petén
Quetzaltenango
Quiché
Retalhuleu
Sacatepéquez
San Marcos
Santa Rosa
Sololá
Suchitepéquez
Totonicapán
Zacapa

Historical flags

The Guatemalan flag has changed throughout history, arriving to its current design in 1871.

FlagDateUse
1825–1838Flag of Guatemala within Central America
1838–1843Flag of Guatemala
1838–1840
1848–1849		Flag of the State of Los Altos
1843–1851Flag of Guatemala
1851–1858Flag of Guatemala
1851–1858State Flag of Guatemala
1858–1871Flag of Guatemala
1858–1871State Flag of Guatemala
1871Flag of Guatemala
1871–1968State Flag of Guatemala (variant, used before c. 1920s)

References
  1. "Guatemala". Flagspot.net. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  2. Flags of the World page "Guatemala" ,Archived 17 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Flags of the World page "Guatemala" Archived 17 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine

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