Central America was once united under a single flag. During the years of the Spanish Empire, 1823 to 1841, a trilinear flag of white and blue was created by Colonel Arce. It formed the single flags of Central America. The flag was given to the Salvadoran army as they battled Mexico. on 20 February 1822.
The region that unites North and South America is made up of seven countries, and although some of them share the colors of the British flag, they are more oriented towards Spain. Their native language is Spanish, and although English is often spoken, it is not considered a primary language.
English is mixed with words taken from other dialects and may be spoken in a creole or broken state.
Who Created the Flags of Central America?
- Panama: The country’s flag is divided into four rectangles of red, two white spots, and blue. Each white rectangle has a colored star- the first one has a blue star, and the second ports a red one. The flag was designed by Maria De La Ossa De Amador in 1903.
- Honduras: Like all members of the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, known now as Argentina, Honduras flies a white and blue flag. However, the current design was created and adopted on February 16, 1866, during the presidency of José María Medina. The five stars that he added that same year represent his hope for a united Central America.
- Guatemala: In a show of nationalism, Guatemala created a flag with vertical blue stripes to differentiate it from the other nations of Central America. But the flag has a long history riddled with changes. For example, in 1524, the Kingdom of Guatemala flew its flag, changing in 1821 to the flag of the First Mexican Empire. Later, it adopted its present color setting in 1871, finalizing the coat of arms in 1997.
- Belize: This is one of the last countries to adopt a modern flag. In 1981, after a national flag design competition, the current flag came from the winners, Everal Waight and Inez Sanchez. The winners added a red border to the upper and lower sides of the previous flag.
- El Salvador: The Salvadoran flag was designed by two sisters in 1862, María Felipa Aranzamendi and Manuela Antonia Arce. Both being inspired by the flag of Argentina. The shades of the blue stripes were finally adopted in 1912.
- Costa Rica: After changing many flags, the country now boasts one with five horizontal bands of blue, white, and red, with the country’s coat of arms sitting in a white disc on the red band. The flag was designed by Pacífica Fernández and adopted in 1906.
- Nicaragua: The Nicaraguan national flag consists of three horizontal blue and white stripes with the country’s coat of arms in the middle. It was adopted after over five decades of existence. Juan Pablo Duarte, a Nicaraguan politician and military commander, is believed to have designed the flag.
The Triband Flags of Central America
- Guatemala: Like four Central American flags, the Guatemalan flag consists of three blue and white vertical stripes. It was created in 1871 by then-President Miguel Garcia Granados and fellow attorney Juan José de la Riva.
- Honduras: This is the third country that shares the tri-colored white and blue. The Honduran flag is divided into three equal horizontal stripes of white and blue. Like Guatemala, the ruling president created the country’s flag. Jose Maria Medina established the Honduran flag on February 16, 1866.
- Belize: This is the most unique of all the Central American flags. Laced with three stripes, two thin red stripes at the top and bottom, and one big blue stripe in the middle, the flag includes variables ranging from leaves to political parties. It was designed in a national competition by winners Everal Waight and Inez Sanchez. It was adopted in 1986
- El Salvador: The last of the tricolor flags, the country employs the white and blue in three equal bands. It was the first of the designs, dating back to 1823 when Colonel Manuel José Arce created the flag. The flag has been emulated by at least three other Central American nations.
Although Central America is now divided into unique nations, its people tell similar stories with the colors of their flags.
