hispanic heritage month: flag symbols

1. Hispanic Heritage Month

5. North America
Norte America

6. Mexico
The coat of arms is derived from an Aztec legend that their gods told them to build a city where they spot an eagle on a
nopal (cactus) eating a serpent, which is now Mexico City.
Green: signifies hope and prosperity
White: represents peace and harmony
Red: symbolizes the blood of Mexican heroes

7. Central America
Centro America

8. Belize
The flag of Belize consists of a royal blue base with a thin red horizontal stripe going across the top and bottom
of the flag. In the middle of the Belize flag is a circular white base with an emblem on it. In the center of the
white circle there is a coat of arms. On the left of the coat of arms there is a man holding an axe, and on the
right side another man is holding an oar. Above the coat of arms there is a tree and below it is Belize's motto.
On the white circle is an inner green circle consisting of 50 olive leaves. The 50 leaves represent the year 1950,
which was when Belize, which was formerly known as British Honduras, began its quest for independence from
Britain. The country was renamed Belize in June of 1973. When independence was realized, the two red
stripes were added to the country's previous flag. The Belize flag represents the unity of the nation's people.

9. Guatemala
In the Guatemalan flag's coat of arms, the crossed rifles indicate Guatemala's willingness to defend
itself by war if need be; while the olive branches symbolize the preferred peace. The sky blue stripes
represent the fact that Guatemala is located between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and the white
stripe stands for the purity of the country's values and peace. Quetzal bird is the symbol of
Independence and autonomy of the Nation.

10. El Salvador
The blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; while the white stripe symbolizes peace. The state coat of
arms on El Salvador's flag is based on the coat of arms of the former United Provinces of Central America. The coat of the arms
shows a triangle which represents equality and the three branches of El Salvador's government. Inside the triangle are five
volcanoes which symbolize the five former members of the federation, flanked by the blue of the ocean and sea. The triangle
contains symbols of liberty, ideals of the people and peace, which are represented by a red cap, golden rays and the rainbow.
The triangle also shows the date that El Salvador gained independence from Spain. Underneath the triangle lies El Salvador's
national motto which translates in English to 'God, Union and Liberty'. The fourteen clusters of leaves represent the 14
departments or states of El Salvador.

11. Honduras
The blue stripes represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The five stars represent the five nations of the
United States of Central America (Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Guatemala) and the hope that
the nations may form a union again.

12. Nicaragua
The colors of the Nicaraguan flag originate from the flag of the former federation of the United Provinces of
Central America. The two blue stripes represented the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; while white
symbolizes peace. A modern interpretation indicates that the color blue symbolizes justice and loyalty; while
the color white represents virtue and purity. The coat of arms features an equilateral triangle which
represents equality. Inside the triangle are five volcanoes, which represent the five members of the
federation. The triangle also contains symbols of liberty and peace - represented by a red Phrygian cap,
white rays and rainbow.

13. Costa Rica
The colors of the Costa Rican flag represent different aspects of Costa Rica: The color blue represents the sky,
opportunities at reach, intellectual thinking, perseverance, infinite, eternity, and ideals of the religious and
spiritual desires; the color white symbolizes clear thinking, happiness, wisdom, power and beauty of the sky,
initiative to search for new endeavors, and peace; and the color red represents the warmth of the Costa Rican
people, their love of life, their blood shed for freedom, and their generosity.

14. Panama
The Panamanian flag's colors represent the two political parties of Panama, the Liberals (red)
and the Conservatives (blue). The white symbolizes peace between them and the equal
division of the colors states that they both govern the country at different times. The colors of
the Panamanian flag also have alternative meanings. The blue represents the Pacific Ocean
and Caribbean Sea and red stands for the blood spilt for Panama's independence. The blue star
represents the civic virtues of purity and honesty and the red star symbolizes the authority of
the law. Together they represent loyalty and resilience.

15. South America
Sur America

16. Columbia
There is no official meaning of the Colombian flag; however there are two popular theories on the meaning behind
Colombia's flag's colors. One states that the yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice; the blue stands for nobility, loyalty
and vigilance; while the red represents valor, honor, generosity and victory through bloodshed. The second interpretation
states the yellow stands for universal liberty; the blue for the equality of all races and social classes before God and the
law; and red means fraternity. There is also a popular Colombian children's song which resonates - "yellow is our gold,
blue is our vast seas and red is the blood that gave us our freedom".

17. Venezuela
The Venezuelan flag is based on one flown by independence fighters fighting against Spanish colonial rule. At that time
the yellow represented the gold of the Americas, blue stood for the Atlantic Ocean which separated the new Americas
from the bloody old world of Europe and Spain which is signified by red. A modern but similar meaning behind the
Venezuelan flag states that the yellow represents new opportunities, the red symbolizes Spain, and the blue stands for
the Atlantic Ocean, which separates the two. The seven stars represent the seven provinces that existed at the time of
Venezuelan independence.

18. Ecuador
The red in the Ecuador flag represents the blood shed by the soldiers and martyrs in the battles for independence.
The color blue stands for the color of the sea and sky; while the yellow symbolizes the abundance and fertility of the
nation's crops and land.

19. Peru
The red stripes represent the blood spilt for Peruvian freedom; while
the white stands for peace.

20. Chile
The red stripe represents the blood of patriots who fought for Chile's independence. The white stripe symbolizes
the snow of the Andes Mountains; while the blue stripe represents the sky. The star on the flag stresses the fact
that Chile is a Unitarian republic, and not a federal republic.

21. Bolivia
The red on the Bolivian flag represents the bravery of the Bolivian soldier. The green symbolizes the
fertility of the land and the yellow represents the country's mineral resources.

22. Paraguay
The Paraguay flag's colors were inspired by the French flag and are considered the colors of liberty and
independence. Separately, the red stripe symbolizes courage, equality and patriotism; the white
represents unity, purity and peace; and blue stands for liberty, benevolence and truth. The front coat of
arms represents May 14, 1811, the date of Paraguay's independence. The olive branch represents peace
and the palm branch represents honor. The Treasury Seal on the reverse is a symbol of liberty.

23. Argentina
There are conflicting views on the meaning of the Argentine flag. One theory states that the blue represents
the Rio de la Plata, (River of Silver) which is the widest river in the world and that the white represents the
metal silver, as the word Argentina originates from the Latin word 'Argentum' which means silver. Early
conquerors thought there were large quantities of silver hidden in Argentine's river's banks. Another theory
of the Argentine flag colors state that they represent the Bourbon Dynasty of Spain, as Spain colonized
Argentina in 1516. Argentina received its independence from the Spanish 300 years later in 1816.

24. Uruguay
The sun emblem is the 'Sun of May'; it is a symbol of freedom and independence. The nine stripes represent the nine
provinces of Uruguay, which existed at the time of the flags creation.

25. Brazil
The colors green and yellow represent the Royal Houses of Bragança (Emperor Pedro I) and Habsburg (Empress Leopoldina). The
stars on the blue circle represent the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the night of November 15, 1889, which is the day the Republic of
Brazil was declared. Each of the 27 stars represents a different Brazilian state and the Federal District. The number of stars changes
anytime a new state is created. When the Brazilian Republic was founded there were 21 stars. The star representing the Federal
District is 'Sigma Octantis', and its position near the south celestial pole, makes it visible across most of Brazil all year round.

26. Caribbean Islands
Islas del Caribe

27. Cuba
The Cuban government's official version of the meaning of the Cuban flag states that - the blue stripes
refer to the three old divisions of the island; and the two white stripes represent the strength of the
independent ideal. The red triangle symbolizes equality, fraternity and freedom, as well as the blood shed
in the island's struggle for independence. Finally, the white star symbolizes the absolute freedom among
the Cuban people.

28. Puerto Rico
The design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Puerto Rican flag represent the
following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice

29. Dominican Republic
The blue in the Dominican Republic flag stands for liberty; the color red for the fire and bloodshed of the struggle
for independence; and the white cross symbolizes the sacrifice of the people.

30. Trinidad and Tobago
The red base represents the vigor of the land in Trinidad and Tobago, the friendliness and courage of its people, and the
sun. The black represents the unity and strength of the people, as well as the natural wealth of the country. The white
represents the surrounding sea and the purity and equality of all people under the sun. Together, the colors represent
earth, water and fire, which connect the nation's people to the past present and future

31. DOL
The color
red
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The color
blue
The color
white
The color
green
A. Peace and Purity
B. Land, Prosperity, Hope
C. Sky, Sea, Loyalty.
D. Strength, Honor, Bravery, Blood.
E. Freedom, Unity, Equality, Republic.

32. El color
rojo
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
El color
azul
El color
blanco
El color
verde
Demonstracion
A. Paz y pureza.
B. Vegetacion, prosperidad y esperanza.
C. Cielo, mar y lealtad.
D. Sangre, fuerza, honor, y valentia.
E. Libertad, union, igualdad y republica.