11 Interesting Spain Flag Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Spain is a beautiful country located on the continent of Europe with a rich culture and heritage that reflects the country's history.

One of the world’s most famous travel destinations, Spain has some interesting facts about its flag. The colorful Spanish flag not only reflects the culture and ethos of the nation but also speaks a lot about its history.

The symbols and colors behind the flags have a history of powerfully driven forces of national pride. The Spaniards (people of Spain) firmly believe in the character and quality that the flag of Spain represents.

The flag of Spain in Spanish is called 'Bandera De Espana', the same name is defined in the constitution of 1978. The national flag in Spain is seen as the symbol of national pride and the rich and diverse history of the country.

The current flag of Spain was actually adopted in the year 1978 when the ruling king ordered a change in the flag. The Spanish national flag comprises three horizontal stripes: red, yellow, and red.

So the color and nature of the flag have remained the same throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries. Before 1975, Francisco Franco, then-dictator of Spain, used different signs and symbols of the flag.

Three centuries back, in the 1400s, the catholic monarchs who ruled Spain established political relationships by marrying their kins to other powerful parties, as a result, the Kingdom of Spain adopted a flag that epitomized the unification of the two houses. Later in the 16th century, the Spanish flag was again changed.

The cross of burgundy represented the country of Spain for a century, 17th to 18th. And during the political turmoil in the early 1900s, the flag of Spain saw new designs, drawn for the different ideologies and many more.

And only in the year 1978 when a democratic government came into being, a new and long-standing Spanish national flag was adopted that symbolized Spanish culture and served political purposes.

The King was shown 12 sketches chosen by the Minister. The current Spanish flag is a direct descendant of the flag that was adopted as a combat ensign. The Spanish triband flag was red-yellow-red, with the yellow band being double the width of the red bands, a distinctive feature that set it apart from other triband European flags.

The current flag of Spain was first introduced in the year 1785, it has been pursued to be the same 'core flag' ever since. While the basic character remained the same, the arms represented in the Spanish flag were altered, varying to Spain’s political conditions. The military flag of the Spanish regiment also saw changes.

The main reason behind the purposeful changes was: most of the European flags were principally white in color and since they occasionally were at war with each other, confusions of flags being similar and unable to identify at the given moment challenged with a serious military consequence, occurred at the sea, so Charles the three ordered the Spanish Minister of Navy to draw and present different models of flags to him and at last after much consideration, the flag which is the direct ancestor of the current national flag was chosen as War ensign.

The Spanish flag being simple in design holds a monumental significance.

After completing their military service, Spanish youth take the flag oath which is also known as Jura de Bandera. Over the years, various iterations of the flag have been witnessed including the red flag, yellow flag, tricolor flag, republican flag, and several others.

The Spanish state flag has specific dimensions with the flag's width to the flag's length ratio being 2:3.

After reading interesting facts about the flag of Spain and the red scroll present thereon, also check China flag facts and Brazil flag facts.

Spain Flag Symbol

The red stripe of the flag of Spain represents the blood of bulls and the yellow stripe in the Spanish flag represents the sand situated in the bull ring. The Spanish flag's official name is Rojigualda.

The symbols depicted in the coat of arms are the castle symbolizes and represents the Kingdom of Castile, the lion represents the kingdom of the Leon, the linked chains in the Spanish flag denote the kingdom of Navarre, pomegranate fruit represents the Moorish kingdoms, and last but not least, the two columns represent the pillars of Hercules, Gibraltar, and Cueta.

The yellow stripe in the Spanish flag represents the sand in the bull ring! The current national flag of Spain has the Spanish coat of arms on the yellow stripe! The flag was officially adopted in the year 1981! The royal coat of arms in the Spanish flag represents symbols set in different timelines!

There are some strict rules regarding the use of own flags, like, the Spanish national flag should not be damaged or torn apart at any cost and it should never be flown above or below any country’s flag!

Spain Flag Meaning

The Spanish coat of arms is off-centered toward the hoist on a horizontal triband flag of red, yellow (double width), and red.

The president, vice presidents, and ministers of the government, as well as the chairmen of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate, are all permitted to fly their own flag that represents their position in the Spanish state. The Spanish coat of arms is centered on the yellow line of this square flag.

The new flag of Spain was officially adopted in the winter of 19th December 1981.

Throughout the centuries the flag has represented various monarchs, symbols, ideas, and values. While the flag has witnessed the different timeline, the main motto which in the late 1900s was adopted symbolizes all the timelines, the motto is, Plus Ultra meaning in Spanish ‘more beyond’ suggesting to Columbus, for the discovery of the new world.

Red and yellow stripes were nominated as the insignia for the flag of Spain, as these are seen as the colors of bravery.

Spanish flag has a coat of arms on it. There are four symbols on the new arms. The four red and five yellow alternating stripes represent the Kingdom of Aragon.

The linked chains represent the Kingdom of Granada. The royal crown symbolizes the King of Spain. The Castle represents the Kingdom of Castile, the lion represents the Kingdom of Leon.

Did you know that when Philip V became king of Spain, he introduced several changes to the royal arms!

Spanish Flag Name

The flag of Spain, in the language of Spanish known as Bandera de Espana. The current national flag of Spanish has been named La Rojigualda (red-weld) The name is popular across all the regions of Spain.

The Royal Standard is the flag flown by the King of Spain. The Spanish Royal Standard is a crimson square with the King's Coat of Arms in the center.

The Princess of Asturias, the heir to the throne, has her own standard and guidon. The Princess of Asturias' Standard is governed by Royal Decree 284/2001, which amends Title II of Spanish Royal Decree 1511/1977.

The Princess of Asturias' Standard is a light blue square flag with the Princess of Asturias' coat of arms in the center (the same color as the Asturian flag). The King was shown twelve sketches chosen by the Minister.

The current flag is a direct descendant of the flag that was adopted as a combat ensign. The Spanish triband flag was red-yellow-red, with the yellow band being double the width of the red bands, a distinctive feature that set it apart from other triband European flags.

Red and yellow stripes (top and bottom) (middle). The yellow stripes are twice as wide as the red stripes.

Spanish Flag Colors

The Spanish contain horizontal stripes of three, bearing red and yellow.

The yellow stripe is two times the size of the red stripe. Since a flag is an identity and a form of representation of the county like all other flags. Spain’s national flag indeed depicts and symbolizes the culture and traditions without any exception.

Be it football arenas, town squares, any other building, the Spanish flag stands tall amongst other flags. When foreign flags are used alongside the Spanish flag, the flags are sorted according to their countries' names in the Spanish language.

The only exception is when the congress or meeting held in Spain dictates a different language to be used for sorting.

The royal crown flies a flag with a Yacht ensign in blue and is centered on the yellow stripe. The first flag of Spain emerged as the unified symbol of the nation.

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