Flag of Guatemala 334073 224969014 2008-07-11T06:31:17Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other [[Image:Flag of Guatemala.svg‎|thumb|250px|[[Image:FIAV 011011.svg|23px]] National flag. Flag ratio: (5:8)]] [[Image:Civil Ensign of Guatemala.svg‎|thumb|250px|[[Image:FIAV 100100.svg|23px]] Civil flag and ensign. Flag ratio: (5:8)]] In Guatemala, the Central American flag was used until 1851 when a pro-Spanish faction took over and added the Spanish colors of red and yellow to the flag. On August 17, 1871 the original colors were restored, but in vertical, rather than horizontal stripes and with a new coat of arms. The new coat of arms shows the quetzal, Guatemala's most famous bird, with its distinctive tail-feathers, representing liberty. The bird stands on a scroll that gives the date of Guatemala's Declaration of Independence. Rifles and swords represent defense of freedom. The present form of the arms was adopted in 1968. Blue and white in the flag are the colors of the original flag of the United Provinces of Central America. The '''[[National flag|flag]] of [[Guatemala]]''' is designed in two colours: 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]], honor, and the sky over the country (see Guatemala's National Anthem). The white colour signifies peace and purity. The stripe pattern is based on the national flag of [[History of Central America|United Provinces of Central America]], although there the stripes were horizontal and the two outer stripes were blue, rather than sky blue. The flags of the other countries that were part of the [[United Provinces of Central America]] follow the horizontal, blue pattern. Inspired in the [[Flag of Argentina|Argentine flag]]. 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 [[rifle]]s, 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]]. More information visit: [http://www.mundodebanderas.com/website.html] The current flag design dates to 1871. The [[Resplendent Quetzal]] previously appeared in the flag of [[Los Altos, Central America]] in the 1830s. ==History== <gallery> Image:Guatemala 1825 - 1838.svg|1825-1838 (Within [[Federal Republic of Central America|Central America]]) Image:Guatemala_1838_-_1843.svg|1838-1843 Image:Guatemala_1843_-_1851.svg|1843-1851 Image:Guatemala_1851_-_1858.svg|1851-1858 Image:Guatemala_1858_-_1871.svg|1858-1871 </gallery> ==External links== *{{FOTW|id=gt|title=Guatemala}} {{-}} {{Flags of North America}} {{nationalflags}} [[Category:National symbols of Guatemala]] [[Category:National flags|Guatemala]] [[bs:Zastava Gvatemale]] [[ca:Bandera de Guatemala]] [[cs:Guatemalská vlajka]] [[de:Flagge Guatemalas]] [[el:Σημαία της Γουατεμάλας]] [[es:Bandera de Guatemala]] [[fr:Drapeau du Guatemala]] [[hr:Zastava Gvatemale]] [[bpy:গুয়াতেমালার ফিরালহান]] [[id:Bendera Guatemala]] [[it:Bandiera guatemalteca]] [[he:דגל גואטמלה]] [[lt:Gvatemalos vėliava]] [[hu:Guatemala zászlaja]] [[nah:Cuauhtēmallān pāntli]] [[nl:Vlag van Guatemala]] [[ja:グアテマラの国旗]] [[no:Guatemalas flagg]] [[pl:Flaga Gwatemali]] [[pt:Bandeira da Guatemala]] [[ru:Флаг Гватемалы]] [[sq:Flamuri i Guatemalas]] [[sk:Vlajka Guatemaly]] [[sr:Застава Гватемале]] [[fi:Guatemalan lippu]] [[sv:Guatemalas flagga]] [[zh:危地馬拉國旗]]