The
Flag of Colombia - Description of the Colombian Flag
As the
above picture of the Colombian Flag indicates the background is
tri-color - three horizontal bands of yellow (top,
double-width), blue, and red
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Colombian flag represent the
following:
Yellow - a
symbol of generosity
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Colombian flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1˝ times the
height )
The Meaning
& History of the Colombian Flag
The inspiration and design
for the Colombian flag came from the instigator of South American
Independence, General Francisco Gabriel de Miranda (1750-1816)
It was then adopted by the Republics of Ecuador, Colombia, and
Venezuela
These three countries formed a confederation from
1822 until 1830 when they each became separate nations
The flag
has remained the same for the three sovereign states with only
slight differences distinguishing one flag from the others
The Colombian flag was adopted on November 26, 1861
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Colombian
Flag Etiquette
Colombian Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Colombian as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Colombian
State Flag of
Colombian
Military Flag of
Colombian (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Colombian
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Colombian Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Colombian should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Colombian flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Colombian should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Colombian flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Colombian, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Colombian Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Colombian flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Colombian flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Colombian flag to the top, then lowering the
Colombian Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Colombian flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Colombian flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Colombian flag
The Colombian flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Colombian
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Colombian flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Colombian
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Colombian Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Colombia
Location:
Northern South America, bordering the
Caribbean Sea, between Panama
and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between
Ecuador and Panama
Colombian Land Size : 1,038,700 sq km
ColombianClimate / Weather : tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in
highlands
Colombian
Population : 42,310,775 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) :
n/a
Colombian Capital
City: Bogota
Colombian GDP:
$262.5 billion (2003 est.)
Colombian Main Industries :
textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear,
beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Main Colors of the
Colombian Flag : yellow, blue and red
Commonly mis-spelt
as Columbian
South America - Concise
History of the Mesoamerican civilisations
Mesoamericans were the ancient
civilisations of South America which is now divided into 12
independent countries consisting of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,
Uruguay, and Venezuela
The diverse civilizations of
ancient Mesoamerica included the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas
and Mayans
5000-1200 BC
The Ancestors of the people of South America were believed to
have been nomadic Asian hunter-gatherers who crossed over the
frozen Bering Strait and into North America. From there they
traveled to the lands of South America and were the descendents
of the great Mesoamerican civilisations and established corn
cultivation, pottery and the use of stone tools
The Olmecs - 1200 BC- 300 AD
The Olmecs were the first true civilisation of South America and
were the ancestors of the later cultures
The Mayan Civilisation - 300 -
1500's
The Mayans empire covered Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras,
and El Salvador. The Mayans developed astronomy and hieroglyphic
writing
The Toltec Civilisation - 900's -
1100's
The Toltecs ruled Mexico and Guatemala from the 10th to the 12th
century
The Aztec Civilisation - 1100'S-
1500'S
The Aztecs' rose to power in Mexico during the 12th and 13th
centuries and remained in control until the arrival of the
Spaniards in the 16th Century
The Inca Civilisation - 1438 - 1535
The empire of the Incas covered Peru, Bolivia, northern
Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. The amazing rise of the Incas was
achieved in less than one hundred years and covered an area of
nearly 400,000 square miles
The Spanish conquistadors - 1535
The later civilisations of South America abruptly ended in 1535
when the Spanish conquistadors seized control
Concise History of
Colombia & its Flag
1535 Spanish
Colombian conquest begins
1525 The
first permanent settlement in South America was founded at Santa
Marta
1536-1538
Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada (1509-1579) led
an expedition into the Andes and obtained massive amounts of
emeralds and gold
1538 Gonzalo
Jimenez de Quesada founded Bogota as the capital of the 'New
Kingdom of Granada'
1550
Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada was appointed Marshal of New Granada
and councillor of Bogotá for life. He died in 1579
1550 African
slaves were shipped to Colombia to work on Colombian plantations
1564 The
Spanish government appointed a president to govern the Colombian colony
1700s Spain
combined Colombia with neighboring territories into one large
colony called the Viceroyalty of New Granada
The
Viceroyalty of New Granada consisted of Colombia, Venezuela,
Ecuador, and Panama
Venezuelan
General Francisco Gabriel de Miranda (1750-1816) participated in
major political events for more than three decades
1810 The
territories of the Viceroyalty of New Granada set up their own
independent governments
1810
Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
1814 Spain
sent troops to South America to quell the uprising of the
colonists
1819 General
Simon Bolivar defeats royalist forces in the Battle of Boyaca on
August 7 and the Republic of Colombia (also known as Gran
Colombia) is proclaimed on December 17, consisting of Colombia,
Venezuela, and Ecuador
1819
Colombia gained its independence from Spain
Simon
Bolivar established Gran Colombia and became the first Colombian president
1830 Ecuador
and Venezuela left Gran Colombia to became totally independent
1853
Colombia adopted a constitution which abolished slavery
1899-1902
Civil War - The War of the Thousand Days took place
1903
Panama seceded from Colombia with US backing and allows US
control over the strip of land now known as the Panama Canal
zone
1922 The
United States paid Colombia $25 million for the loss of Panama
1939-1945
Colombia helped the United States to keep the Panama Canal open
during World War II
1989 USA
began supplying the Colombian government with military equipment
to help rid Colombia of drug dealers
2002 Alvaro
Uribe Velez was elected Colombian president
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
accessed from the Index
You can go "Around the World in 80
minutes!"
The
Colombian Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Colombian Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
