19 Guatemala Flag Facts: What Symbol Is In The Middle? And Why?

The national flag of Guatemala is known as 'Pabellón Nacional' meaning national flag and also 'Azul y Blanco'.

Due to the shared ancestry of those nations, the Guatemalan flag shows significant similarity to several other Central American flags, but it also contains certain aspects that distinguish it as a particularly Guatemalan design.

The design has been in existence for almost a century; however, it is neither the first or first flag allowed as a national emblem in Guatemala, nor is it the sole flag in use now. Guatemala is unusual and extraordinary. It is the cradle of Mayan culture, the region of stunning volcanic landscapes, and the home of the vibrant Antigua.

With all of that, the country also hides a long and fascinating history that begins with the Mayan Civilization and culminates in 1841, when the Federal Republic of Central America was totally dissolved. The country's civil variant flag, which largely matches the national flag, the Flag of the President of the Nation, the flag of the President of the Congress, and also the flag of the President of the Supreme Court are all recognized flags in Guatemala.

The blue and white colors in the flag have an interesting meaning. The blue color represents the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean while the white represents purity, peace, and integrity. The official language is Spanish and the country is known as the land of many trees.

Read on to know more about the flag of Guatemala and its similarity to the flag of El Salvador. Afterward, also check Dominican republic flag facts and Florida state flag facts.

Municipal & Army Flags

Guatemala's flag is a national emblem and a representation of the country's lengthy history. It encapsulates the cultural spirit of the country.

Flags of military rank include for the Minister of Defence, a rectangular flag horizontally partitioned, upper half white with four black fimbriated golden stars laid in a row, as well as lower half vertically divvied up in two, hoist red and fly blue; another flag entirely seen behind the Minister of Defence is light blue, imposed with a white rectangle (bordered gold) appointed with the national Coat of Arms as well as four gold stars.

The Deputy Minister of National Defense has a flag that seems to be horizontally divisible in the white upper half with three black lined golden stars and red lower stripe; the Chief of Defence Staff will have a flag which is horizontally split in the white upper half with three black lined golden stars and red lower stripe; the flag of the Deputy Chief of Staff is as chief of staff, but two stars as well as swallow-tailed.

The national flag of Guatemala is rectangular in shape, with a height-to-width ratio of 5:8. The flag has a vertical tri-band of light blue and white. On the hoist and fly borders of the flag, two light blue bands may be seen, with the white band positioned between the two light blue bars.

Guatemala's National Emblem is centered on the white band and was fashioned by Swiss artist Johan-Baptist Frener, who resided in Guatemala from 1854-1897. A crown of bay laurel branches, two crossed rifles or crossed swords, and even Remington rifles with their handles on the base of the bay laurel wreath make up the National Emblem.

Shapes And Designs Of Flags

The Captaincy General of Guatemala was the term given to the Spanish Empire's rule of Guatemala from 1609 until 1821.

The burgundy cross was the flag hoisted in this region. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica formed the Central American Federal Republic in 1823. The selected flag was a horizontal triband of light blue, white, as well as light blue featuring their insignia in the middle. Guatemala's flag had been a blue, white, and blue horizontal triband flag in 1825, with an emblem in center incorporated in 1838, identical to the one used by the Federal Republic of Central America.

When Guatemala left the Federal Republic of Central America in 1838 the emblem flag of Guatemala was changed to a shield with the sun shining over mountains in front of a quiver of arrows and wreaths. In 1851 the flag was changed to feature a white band in the center, a red-blue split top band, and a yellow-blue split bottom band.

In 1858, a flag inspired by the Spanish flag was approved, with a strong yellow stripe above and below and narrower blue-white-red stripes above and below.

At the very same time, the Guatemalan State Flag had a nation's coat of arms in the center. In 1871, the flag was altered to a vertical triband of light blue, white, as well as light blue bearing the National Emblem inside the center. The merchant flag and civil flag have the same design as the national flag but do not have the symbol. In 2008, a flag was created to symbolize Guatemala's indigenous peoples.

Parts Of A Flag & Its Importance

Guatemala, Central America's most diversified country, captivates visitors with its breathtaking scenery. Maya pyramids, Spanish architecture, breathtaking natural landscapes, and adventure routes await you, and a country's flag expresses its own spirit.

Guatemala's national flag is now a longitudinal triband with a white center band holding the country's coat of arms nested between two light blue bands. The two oceans that encircle the nation are represented by the blue stripes on the outer edges, whereas the white ribbon denotes peace. The glorious quetzal, Guatemala's national bird, and an icon of liberty in Central America are shown on the Guatemalan coat of arms.

Color In Flag & Its Importance

The Guatemalan flag as we know it now was only introduced in 1871. The flag had gone through multiple iterations before then, with several coats of arms in its centers.

The two sky-blue horizontal stripes reflect the Pacific and Caribbean oceans that Guatemala is sandwiched between, as well as the sky above the nation. Azuliblanco refers to the flag's sky blue and white color scheme. The white stripes are associated with peace and innocence. The Bandera de Los Pueblos has four primary hues in contrast to Azuliblanco.

The Guatemalan flag features the colors red, yellow, white, and black and each of these hues represent one of four indigenous tribes. The Xinca people are represented by red, the Garifuna by yellow, the Ladino by black, and the Mayans by the central white stripe.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Guatemala flag facts then why not take a look at Brazil flag facts, or China flag facts.