The
Flag of Guatemala - Description of the Guatemalan Flag
As the
above picture of the Guatemalan Flag indicates the overall
background is
sky blue and white
The
Guatemalan
flag is described as
follows:
Three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white,
and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Guatemalan flag represent the
following:
White -
peace and honesty
Blue -
the sea and the sky - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
The
basic style shown in the picture of the Guatemalan flag is
described as Emblem -reflecting the
central design of the flag pattern
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Guatemalan flag is described as
5:8
The
emblem on the Guatemalan flag pictures the Guatemalan coat of
arms
The
coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal ( the national
bird of Guatamala) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD
15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from
Spain)
superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles
and a pair of crossed swords indicating Guatemala's willingness
to defend itself by war
framed by a wreath of olive leaves
The Meaning & History of the Guatemalan Flag
The white stripe
between the two blue stripes originated with the national flag
of United Central America however the Guatemalan version turns
the stripes vertically rather than the original horizontal
design
In 1823 Guatemala became part of the United Provinces of Central
America which also includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and
Nicaragua
Until 1851 the
Central American flag was used
In 1871 the stripes
were changed from horizontal to vertical and the coat of arms
were changed
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
Guatemalan
Flag Etiquette
Guatemalan 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 Guatemalan as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Guatemalan
State Flag of
Guatemalan
Military Flag of
Guatemalan (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Guatemalan
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Guatemalan Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Guatemalan 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 Guatemalan flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Guatemalan should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Guatemalan flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Guatemalan, 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 Guatemalan Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Guatemalan flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Guatemalan flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Guatemalan flag to the top, then lowering the
Guatemalan Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Guatemalan flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Guatemalan flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Guatemalan flag
The Guatemalan 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 Guatemalan
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
Guatemalan flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Guatemalan
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 Guatemalan Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Guatemala
Location:
Central America, bordering the North
Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the
Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Guatemalan Land Size : 108,430 sq km
Guatemalan Climate / Weather
: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in
highlands
Guatemalan
Population : 14,280,596 (July 2004 est.)
Guatemalan Capital
City: Guatemala
Guatemalan GDP:
$56.53 billion (2003 est.)
Guatemalan Main Industries :
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,
metals, rubber, tourism
Guatemalan Currency
: quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD)
Main Colors of the
Guatemalan Flag : sky blue and white
Commonly mis-spelt
as Guatamalen
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 Guatemalan History & its Flag
The
indigenous Guatemalan inhabitants were the Mayans
1523
- Spanish conquistador
Pedro de Alvarado led a Spanish expedition from Mexico and
invaded Guatemala
Pedro de Alvarado established Spanish rule
1540 - Indigenous
Guatemalan population crushed and Guatemala becomes a Spanish colony under
the control of the Captaincy General of Guatemala
1776 Spain
encompassed all of its territories in south-east South America
to create one large colony called the Viceroyalty of the Rio de
la Plata
1810 -
Overthrow of the king of Spain by Napoleon
1821 -
Guatemala gains independence from Spain
1821
Guatemala became a part of the Mexican empire
1823
Guatemala broke away from Mexico
1823 The
United Provinces of Central America was formed of the five
Central American states under General Manuel Jose Arce
1823 -
Guatemala becomes part of the United Provinces of Central
America, which also includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and
Nicaragua
1840 -
Guatemala becomes fully independent following the
dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America
1840 -
Rafael Carrerea takes control as the first of many Guatemalan liberal
dictators up to 1945
1945 A
Guatemalan constitution was adopted which was subsequently amended on
several occasions
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The
Guatemalan Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Guatemalan 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
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