Flag of El Salvador

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El Salvador
Bandera Magna (Magna flag) (in Spanish)
UseState and war flag, naval ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion189:335,[1] approximately 9:16
Adopted27 May 1912; 111 years ago (1912-05-27)
DesignA horizontal triband of cobalt blue (top and bottom) and white with the National Coat of Arms in the center and occupying the entire height of the white stripe with its top touching the upper blue strip and its base touching the lower blue stripe.
UseCivil flag and ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
DesignA horizontal triband of white within cobalt blue
UseState and war flag, civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
DesignA horizontal triband of white within cobalt blue, the words "DIOS UNION LIBERTAD" in bolden golden amber centered and occupying almost the entire length of the white stripe

The flag of El Salvador features a horizontal triband of cobalt blue-white-cobalt blue, with the coat of arms centered and entirely contained within the central white stripe. This design of a triband of blue-white-blue is commonly used among Central American countries. El Salvador's flag is one of few that currently use the color purple, due to the rainbow in its coat of arms.[2]

Features[edit]

El Salvador's cobalt blue color scheme hue falls between Hex 024BFB and Hex 0F45D2
  Hex 024BFB
  Hex 0F45D2
Any additional appendages on the flag are in golden Amber (color)
Mesoamerican civilizations in El Salvador cultivated "añil"(Indigo), and used its blue dye extracts for many purposes.

The colors signify:

  •   Cobalt blue: represents the sky of the country and two massive oceans of Central America.
  •   White: represents peace, concordia and solidarity with the world
      Golden Amber: represents the entire bold phraseology in the flag, the coat of arms of El Salvador; the bold equilateral triangle, 5 indigenous spears, beaming solar rays, scroll, the bold motto (God Union Liberty) and the bold etymology (Republic of El Salvador in Central America)
  • The flag has the words (REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL) in a bold and Heavy, Sans Serif Boris Black Bloxx typeface, in a golden amber color
  • The national motto (DIOS UNIÓN LIBERTAD) in Trajan bold Roman square capitals. The letter are colored amber gold on the civil flag, and black in the coat of arms
  • The date (15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821) in Trajan bold Roman square capitals

The blue hue is a vivid, lustrous and luscious rich solid cobalt blue. In the center of and occupying the entire width of the white stripe is the coat of arms with its top touching the upper blue strip and its base touching the lower blue stripe. The coat of arms contains the in bold golden amber words "REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMÉRICA CENTRAL" (English: Republic of El Salvador in Central America). There are two variant flags, one without the coat of arms, and the other with the words "DIOS UNIÓN LIBERTAD" (English: God, Union, Liberty) in bold golden amber in place of the coat of arms. All three contain the same cobalt blue and white stripes, occasionally with a gold Fringe (trim). The main flag has an aspect ratio of 189:335 while the variants are both 3:5.[3]

From 1865 to 1912, a different flag was in use, with a field of alternating cobalt blue and white stripes and a red canton containing stars. The designs of both sides of the flag are different; at the reverse side, it shows the then national coat of arms at the position of stars at obverse. The stars symbolized the provinces of the Republic; once a new province was created, one star was add to the obverse of the flag. This "Star-Striped" banner was considered to be inspired by the flag of the United States.

The blue stripes symbolize the ocean and sky. The white means Peace. Blue is an important color in Salvadoran culture and identity. It started with Native American cultures of Mesoamerica in El Salvador, that produced (añil) indigo plant which they used extracts to produce blue dyes. When the Europeans invaded and colonized the area, they saw the wealth of indigo and turned El Salvador to one of the world's foremost providers of indigo dye in its time.

Many other countries in Central America use blue and white colors as a Pan-Central American symbol.

Synonymous to the country's wealth, the colonizers referred to the dye as "the blue gold", that dominated El Salvador's economy until it was completely replaced by coffee cultivation. Today El Salvador remains as one of the few countries in the world that still cultivates indigo to produce blue dyes. Over time El Salvador's flag has had several different shades of blue, from the lightest to darkest, including Royal blue, Sapphire, Klein Blue and Indigo. The present current modern flag displays a cobalt blue color.

Departments[edit]

Historical flags of El Salvador[edit]

Flag Adopted Relinquished
1525–1701 1525 1701
1701–1760 1701 1760
1760–1785 1760 1785
1785–1821 1785 15 September 1821
??? 15 September 1821 20 February 1822
1822–1823 20 February 1822 9 February 1823
1823 9 February 1823 1 July 1823
1823–1824 1 July 1823 22 November 1824
1824–1841 22 November 1824 February 1841
1841–1842 February 1841 1842
1842–1844 1842 1844
1844–1865 1844 9 May 1865
1865 9 May 1865 June 1865
1865–1869 June 1865 1869
1869–1873 1869 1873
1873–1877 1873 1877
1877–1898 1877 2 November 1898
1877–1898 (reverse) 1877 (reverse) 2 November 1898 (reverse)
1898 2 November 1898 30 November 1898
1898–1912 30 November 1898 17 May 1912
1898–1912 (reverse) 30 November 1898 (reverse) 17 May 1912 (reverse)
1912–1921 17 May 1912 1921
1921–1922 1921 1922
1912–1921 1922 present

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Flag of El Salvador". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  2. ^ "sv-flag". World Atlas. Retrieved 31 January 2024. Note: Expanded flag clearly shows purple in rainbow.
  3. ^ *Art.7. "La bandera magna será de tres metros treinta y cinco centímetros de largo por un metro ochenta y nueve centímetros de ancho, en la cual irá dibujado el Escudo de Armas con todos sus blasones." (The greater flag is 3m 35cm long and 1m 89cm wide and includes the entire national coat of arms)
    • Art.9. "La bandera de uso en edificios y oficinas públicos, será de un metro de largo por sesenta centímetros de ancho (..) En la franja del centro llevará la leyenda: DIOS UNION LIBERTAD" (The flag for use at public buildings is 1m long by 60cm wide (..) The central stripe shall bear the inscription 'Dios Union Libertad')
    • Art.11. "La bandera de desfiles deberá medir un metro cuarenta y cinco centímetros de largo por noventa centímetros de ancho (..) La franja blanca de la bandera para desfiles, llevará en letras doradas la inscripción: DIOS UNION LIBERTAD" (The flag for use at parades will be 1.45m long by 90cm wide (..) The white stripe of the flag for parades shall bear in golden letters the inscription 'Dios Union Libertad')
    Ley de Símbolos Patrios Archived 2016-03-13 at the Wayback Machine