After gaining independence from Spain, Guatemala flew the flag of the Federal Republic of Central America. At that time, a pro-Spain faction exerted a lot of influence over Guatemala, and it changed the flag to include red and yellow, which were also featured on the Spanish flag. However, the original colors were later restored, but the flag underwent several more changes before becoming what it is today.
In the end, the Guatemalan flag is highly unique, but it also shares commonalities with some other countries in the region. Here’s a brief look at the history of Guatemala as a nation and a deep dive into the Guatemalan flag.
About Guatemala
Guatemala is a Central American country with a short coastline on the Gulf of Honduras and a longer coastline on the Pacific Ocean. It’s neighbored by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Southern Guatemala has 27 volcanoes, and various other parts of the country feature mountains, valleys, and plains.
Guatemala gained independence from Spanish rule in the 1820s. However, after that time, Guatemala dealt with a significant amount of authoritarianism in its government, often facing military regimes and other forms of strict oversight and control.
Beginning in the mid-1950s, guerilla opposition to various governments led to a civil war, a situation that lasted for more than 35 years. While Guatemala became a democratic nation in 1985, civil war remained part of the equation for far longer, with peace accords not being signed in 1996.
Since that time, the political climate has calmed and the economy recovered, though there are still challenges. Many of the political parties in the nation – which are incredibly numerous compared with other countries –are quite small, and a significant portion end up short-lived. Additionally, many Guatemalans fear returning to more authoritarian or military-oriented governments, including during the early 21st century.
Originally, Guatemala was home to indigenous peoples. However, as explorers and settlers arrived, the population changed. Currently, there are two primary ethnic groups, the Maya and the Ladinos. Ladinos are of mixed Hispanic and Maya origin. There are also Xinca and Garifuna, the latter of which is a population group of mixed Caribbean and African descent.
At this time, Spanish is the language for official transactions and many types of business, which is primarily the case due to previous Spanish rule in the region. However, many other languages are represented, including an array of Mayan languages.
The Guatemalan Flag
The current national flag of Guatemala features three vertical stripes. The outer two are sky blue, while the central one is white. The blue stripes represent the two oceans on either side of the country, the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. White stands for purity and peace.
The same color scheme is present in many other Central American flags. However, most of them use horizontal stripes instead of vertical ones, which helps the Guatemalan flag stand out.
Within the white stripe is the Guatemalan coat of arms, which has a few intriguing symbols within it. First, there’s the quetzal. Along with being Guatemala’s national bird, it also symbolizes liberty in Central America.
Another feature of the coat of arms is a parchment scroll, which features the date when Central America formally freed itself from the Spanish Empire. The scroll is positioned over two swords and two rifles. The swords represent honor, while the rifles stand for resolve and the willingness of Guatemala to defend itself should the need arise. Finally, there’s a laurel crown, which represents victory.
One somewhat unique feature of the Guatemalan flag is its flag ratio, using a 5:8 instead of the more common 2:3 or 1:2 ratios.
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