Many Central American countries have flags with clear similarities, particularly some of the nations that were members of the Federal Republic of Central America. However, the Panamanian flag is quite unique when compared to other flags in the region.
Primarily, the differences were based on how the flag was designed and the symbolism behind the choices. For example, many Central American flags feature lighter or brighter blue stripes, with at least one representing the sea. Panama’s flag doesn’t have stripes at all. Instead, it uses a quartered design.
By understanding the meaning behind the various design features on the Panamanian flag, it’s easier to see why it doesn’t mimic many others in the region. Here’s what you need to know about the flag of Panama.
The Creation of the Panamanian Flag
As is the case in many countries, the current flag of Panama isn’t the first proposed design. While preparing to separate from Colombia in 1903, Panama worked swiftly to adopt a new flag.
The first suggested design pulled a lot of inspiration from other countries and featured nods to several nations and regions. For example, it features 13 alternating red and yellow horizontal stripes and a blue field, with the pattern aligning with the United States flag. The colors were based on those favored by Colombia and Spain, showing Panama’s relationship with those nations. Then, there were two interconnected suns, standing for North and South America, with Panama serving as a connecting point.
However, the initial design wasn’t adopted. One of the main reasons was the strong resemblance to the flag of the United States, which wasn’t preferred by then-President Manuel Amador Guerrero.
After its rejection, the President’s family worked on a new design. The first iteration was created by the President’s son, and that design was given to his wife, First Lady Maria de la Ossa de Amador. The first Panamanian flag was created by the First Lady on November 1, 1903, a challenge as the family needed to avoid the Colombian army in the region before the separation from Colombia was completed on November 4, 1903. Along with marking Panama’s independence, that date became Flag Day in Panama, celebrating the first day it was flown over the new nation.
The original design is only slightly different from the current version. The upper left quadrant was blue, while the lower right was white. The other quadrants were white with stars, one star being blue and the other red. The position of the quadrants was later shifted when the color blue was adopted by a political party in the nation, though the core design remained the same.
A Closer Look at the Current Panamanian Flag
As mentioned above, the Panamanian flag is divided into four quarters. There is one blue square and an opposing red square, both of which represent the country’s political parties at the time of its creation. The blue square is in the lower left, while the red square is positioned at the upper right. Then, there are two white squares, and those symbolize peace.
Within the flag, there are also two starts, with one positioned on each of the white quarters. The blue star stands for purity and honesty. The red star is representative of law and authority. When taken together, the stars are representative of the republic as a whole.
This version of the flag was officially described in law on December 15, 1949. Since that time, the design has remained in place.
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